K&C TEST

What is K&C?

A special type of vehicle suspension testing to measure:

Kinematics Suspension Geometry
Compliance Suspension Stiffness

Chassis:
Bounce
Roll
Pitch

Tires:
Zero scrub force
Braking loads
Acceleration loads
Cornering loads
Why K&C?

Steering and handling characteristics are determined by:

Tire properties
Orientation of the tires relative to the road
Load (weight) transfer and load transfer distribution

Ride characteristics are determined by numerous factors

including:
Shock Absorber tuning
Tire Properties
Spring Rates
Suspension Travel
Suspension Compliance
Suspension Recession
Orientation of the Wheels

Static
+ Kinematics + Compliance
Alignment
Orientation of the Wheels

Static Alignment
Includes
Toe
Caster
Camber
Thrust Angle

Set and/or audited

on each individual
vehicle in
production or
aftermarket.
Orientation of the Wheels

Kinematics

Wheel position / orientation change with suspension

travel.

Kinematic design of a
suspension system
involves determining
the positions of
hardpoints.
Orientation of the Wheels

Compliance

Wheel position / orientation change with applied load.

A function of bushing
properties, is the
inverse of stiffness.
Load Transfer

Determined by:
Vehicle center of gravity position
Wheelbase
Track width
Suspension stiffness

Total load transfer:

Lateral load transfer
Front-to-rear load transfer
Spring Rates

The amount of weight

required to deflect a spring
one inch (or a mm).

The lower the Spring Rate,

the softer the spring. The
softer the spring, the
smoother the ride.
Suspension Travel

The distance from the bottom to the top of the

suspension stroke.

Typically it is restricted by jounce and rebound

bumpers.
Suspension Compliance

Includes the compliance of:

Bushings
Suspension parts
Frame / Body
Joints

All simulations need to

be verified with a
physical test
Suspension Recession

The wheel moves rearward in jounce and forward in

rebound.

Reduces the suspension rate.

Provides damping.
Where is the K&C Done?

SPMM Suspension Parameter Measurement Machine

Where is the K&C Done?

SPMM Suspension Parameter Measurement Machine

Where is the K&C Done?

SPMM Suspension Parameter Measurement Machine

How is the K&C Done?

1. Vehicle body / frame is

clamped to the center Roll
Pitch Bounce table.

2. Tires are centered

(geometrically or by center of
pressure) on wheel platforms
(X-Y tables).

3. String encoders are attached

to the wheels to precisely
measure wheel positions in 6
DOF.
How is the K&C Done?

4. Bounce, pitch, and roll inputs are applied to the vehicle

through the center table.

5. Lateral, longitudinal, and aligning moment (steer) inputs

are applied through the wheel platforms.

6. Steering Robot holds the steering wheel at a given position

or turns the wheel at a specified angular rate or to a
specified position.
Which Subtest are Done in the K&C?

Kinematic Tests
Ride
Roll
Steer Test

Center of Gravity & Moment of Inertia Test

Compliance Tests
Parallel Brake Force
Single Wheel Brake Force
Parallel Wheel Center Compliance
Single Wheel Center Compliance
Parallel Lateral Force
Which Subtest are Done in the K&C?

Kinematic Tests
Ride
Roll
Steer Test

Center of Gravity & Moment of Inertia Test

Compliance Tests
Parallel Brake Force
Single Wheel Brake Force
Parallel Wheel Center Compliance
Single Wheel Center Compliance
Parallel Lateral Force
Kinematic Tests

Ride Test
Table moves vehicle chassis vertically for jounce and
rebound.
Steering wheel fixed in straight ahead position.
Wheel platforms float in X, Y, & steer directions.
Performed with and without anti-roll bars connected.
Kinematic Tests

Ride Test - Steer

Front Steer vs Suspension Travel

Kinematic Tests

Ride Test Spring Rate

Normal Force vs Suspension Travel

Kinematic Tests

Ride Test - Tire Radial Rate

Normal Force vs Suspension Travel

Kinematic Tests

Ride Test -Camber

Camber vs Suspension Travel

Kinematic Tests

Ride Test - Wheel Center X Change

Wheel center X vs Suspension Travel

Kinematic Tests

Ride Test Wheelbase Change

Wheelbase vs Suspension Travel

Kinematic Tests

Ride Test Wheel Center Y Change

Wheel Center Y vs Suspension Travel

Kinematic Tests

Ride Test Track Change

Track vs Suspension Travel

Kinematic Tests

Ride Test - Friction

Front Normal Force vs Suspension Travel

Kinematic Tests

Ride Test - Friction

Front Normal Force vs Suspension Travel

Kinematic Tests

Ride Test Roll Center Height

Roll Center Height vs Suspension Travel

Kinematic Tests

Roll Test
Table rolls vehicle chassis.
Steering wheel fixed in straight ahead position.
Wheel platforms float in X, Y, & steer directions.
Performed with and without anti-roll bars connected.
Kinematic Tests

Roll Test Roll Steer

Front Steer vs Roll Travel

Kinematic Tests

Roll Test - Vehicle Roll Stiffness w/Tire

Normal Force vs Roll Travel

Kinematic Tests

Roll Test- Vehicle Roll Stiffness w/o Tire

Normal Force vs Roll Travel

Kinematic Tests

Roll Test Camber Loss

Camber vs Roll Travel

Kinematic Tests

Roll Test Vehicle Roll Stiffness NARB

Normal Force vs Roll Travel

Kinematic Tests

Roll Test Roll Steer NARB

Front Steer vs Roll Travel

Kinematic Tests

Steer Test
Table holds vehicle chassis at fixed attitude.
Powered handwheel input. Wheel platforms float in X,
Y, & steer directions.
Kinematic Tests

Steer Test Steer Ratio (on-center)

Handwheel Steer vs Road Wheel Steer

Kinematic Tests

Steer Test - Camber

Camber vs Road Wheel Steer

Kinematic Tests

Steer Test Ackermann Difference @ 20

Percent Ackerman vs Inside Wheel Steer

Kinematic Tests

Steer Test Steer Difference @ 20

Steer Differential vs Inside Wheel Steer

Which Subtest are Done in the K&C?

Kinematic Tests
Ride
Roll
Steer Test

Center of Gravity & Moment of Inertia Test

Compliance Tests
Parallel Brake Force
Single Wheel Brake Force
Parallel Wheel Center Compliance
Single Wheel Center Compliance
Parallel Lateral Force
Compliance Tests

Parallel Brake Force

Table holds vehicle chassis at fixed attitude.
Brakes applied, steering wheel fixed in straight ahead
position.
Wheel platforms input longitudinal forces equal on
both sides, float in Y & steer directions.
Compliance Tests

Parallel Brake Force Steer Low/High Force

Front Steer vs Longitudinal Force

Compliance Tests

Parallel Brake Force Normal Load

Normal Force vs Longitudinal Force

Compliance Tests

Parallel Brake Force Stiffness Low/High Force

High Force

Wheel Center X vs Longitudinal Force

Compliance Tests

Single Wheel Brake Force

Table holds vehicle chassis at fixed attitude.
Brakes Applied, steering wheel fixed in straight ahead
position.
Wheel platform inputs longitudinal force on one side
only, float in Y & steer directions, unloaded wheel pads
float in X, Y, & steer directions.
Compliance Tests

Single Wheel Brake Force Steer Low/High Force

Steer vs Longitudinal Force

Compliance Tests

Single Wheel Brake Force - Stiffness Low/High Force

Wheel Center X vs Longitudinal Force

Compliance Tests

Parallel Wheel Center Compliance

Table holds vehicle chassis at fixed attitude. Steering
wheel fixed in straight ahead position.
Tire/Wheel assemebly strapped to wheel platform,
becomes part of test fixture.
Wheel platforms input longitudinal forces equal on
both sides, float in Y & steer directions.
Compliance Tests

Parallel Wheel Center Compliance Front

Longitudinal Stiffness Low/High Force

Wheel Center X vs Longitudinal Force

Compliance Tests

Parallel Wheel Center Compliance Rear

Longitudinal Stiffness Low/High Force

Wheel Center X vs Longitudinal Force

Compliance Tests

Single Wheel Center Compliance

Table holds vehicle chassis at fixed attitude. Steering
wheel fixed in straight ahead position.
Tire/Wheel assmebly strapped to wheel platform,
becomes part of test fixture.
Wheel platform inputs longitudinal force on one side
only, float in Y & steer directions, unloaded wheel pads
float in X, Y, & steer directions.
Compliance Tests

Single Wheel Center Compliance Left Front

Longitudinal Stiffness Low/High Force

Wheel Center X vs Longitudinal Force

Compliance Tests

Single Wheel Center Compliance Left Rear

Longitudinal Stiffness Low/High Force

Wheel Center X vs Longitudinal Force

Compliance Tests

Parallel Lateral Force

Table holds vehicle chassis at fixed attitude. Steering
wheel fixed in straight ahead position.
Wheel platforms input lateral forces in the same
direction at all 4 wheels, float in X & steer directions.
Compliance Tests

Parallel Lateral Force Roll Center Height

Compliance Tests

Parallel Lateral Force Normal Force

Normal Force vs Lateral Force

Compliance Tests

Parallel Lateral Force Steer On-Center / Off-Center

Steer vs Lateral Force

Compliance Tests

Parallel Lateral Force Camber

Camber vs Lateral Force

Compliance Tests

Parallel Lateral Force Stiffness

Wheel Center Y vs Lateral Force

Compliance Tests

Single Wheel Lateral Force

Table holds vehicle chassis at fixed Steering wheel fixed
in straight ahead position.
Wheel platform inputs lateral force on one side only,
float in X & steer directions, unloaded
wheel pads float in X, Y, & steer directions.
Compliance Tests

Single Wheel Lateral Force Steer On-Center / Off-

Center

Steer vs Lateral Force

Compliance Tests

Single Wheel Lateral Force Camber

Camber vs Lateral Force

Compliance Tests

Single Wheel Lateral Force Stiffness

Wheel Center Y vs Lateral Force

Compliance Tests

Opposed Lateral Force

Table holds vehicle chassis at fixed attitude. Steering
wheel fixed in straight ahead position.
Wheel platforms input lateral forces in opposite
directions on left & right wheels, float in X & steer
directions.
Compliance Tests

Opposed Lateral Force Normal Load

Normal Force vs Lateral Force

Compliance Tests

Opposed Lateral Force Steer

Steer vs Lateral Force

Compliance Tests

Opposed Lateral Force Camber

Camber vs Lateral Force

Compliance Tests

Opposed Lateral Force Stiffness

Wheel Center Y vs Lateral Force

Compliance Tests

Parallel Aligning Torque

Table holds vehicle chassis at fixed attitude. Steering
wheel fixed in straight ahead position.
Wheel platforms input aligning torques in the same
direction at each wheel, float in the X and Y directions.
Compliance Tests

Parallel Aligning Torque Steer On-Center / Off-Center

Steer vs Aligning Torque

Compliance Tests

Parallel Aligning Torque Camber

Camber vs Aligning Torque

Compliance Tests

Single Wheel Aligning Torque

Table holds vehicle chassis at fixed attitude. Steering
wheel fixed in straight ahead position.
Wheel platform inputs aligning torque on one side only,
float in the X and Y direction, unloaded wheel pads
float in X, Y, & steer directions.
Compliance Tests

Single Wheel Aligning Torque Steer On-Center /

Off-Center

Steer vs Aligning Torque

Compliance Tests

Opposed Aligning Torque

Table holds vehicle chassis at fixed attitude. Steering
wheel fixed in straight ahead position.
Wheel platforms input aligning torques in opposite
directions on left & right wheels, float in the X and Y
directions.
Compliance Tests

Opposed Aligning Torque Steer

Steer vs Aligning Torque

Compliance Tests

Opposed Aligning Torque Camber

Camber vs Aligning Torque

Which Subtest are Done in the K&C?

Kinematic Tests
Ride
Roll
Steer Test

Center of Gravity & Moment of Inertia Test

Compliance Tests
Parallel Brake Force
Single Wheel Brake Force
Parallel Wheel Center Compliance
Single Wheel Center Compliance
Parallel Lateral Force
CG & MOI Test

Table moves vehicle chassis for bounce pitch, roll and

yaw.
Movements are slow for CG and fast for MOI
What do I do with SPMM Data

Roll Stiffness Distribution

Tire forces are load sensitive

Weight transfer determined by CG Height & Track
Width (generally cant be changed)
Front to rear weight transfer distribution is determined
by the roll stiffness distribution
Roll stiffness is determined by suspension properties
and measured during K&C Testing
What do I do with SPMM Data

Weight Distribution

To compare roll stiffness distribution to weight distribution.

Mainly used to compare against competitive vehicles, not as

an absolute target.
What do I do with SPMM Data

Understeer Budget

Wheelbase
Corner Weights
CG Height
Roll steer
Roll Stiffness
Roll camber
Lateral force steer
Lateral force camber
Lateral force stiffness
Aligning moment steer
 What do I do with SPMM Data
Understeer Budget
Left Front
Toe In in rebound
Negative Camber in
Rebound
Negative Camber in
Roll
Toe In with Outward
Lateral Force
Toe In with Aligning
Moment
Negative Camber with
Outward Lateral Force
Right Front
Toe Out in Jounce
Positive Camber in
Jounce
Positive Camber in
Roll
Toe Out with Inward
Lateral Force
Toe Out with Aligning
Moment
Positive Camber with
Inward Lateral Force
 What do I do with SPMM Data
Understeer Budget
Left Rear
Toe Out in rebound
Positive Camber in
Rebound
Positive Camber in Roll
Toe Out with Outward
Lateral Force
Toe Out with Aligning
Moment
Positive Camber with
Outward Lateral Force
Right Rear
Toe In in Jounce
Negative Camber in
Jounce
Negative Camber in
Roll
Toe In with Inward
Lateral Force
Toe In with Aligning
Moment
Negative Camber with
Inward Lateral Force
What do I do with SPMM Data

Static Stability Factor & NHTSA Rollover Star Rating

Star ratings are given based on 3 conditions:

SSF Only
SSF + Fishhook test with no wheel lift
SSF + Fishhook test with two wheel lift.

SSF Only can be calculated from SPMM results.

There are only small differences between the three ratings.

What do I do with SPMM Data

Static Stability Factor & NHTSA Rollover Star Rating

What do I do with SPMM Data

Steering Characteristics

Steering sensitivity is calculated based on the wheelbase and

steering ratio from the SPMM summary and the vehicle level
understeer from the US Budget or Instrumented Handling test
results.

Maneuverability Index is calculated from SPMM results.

What do I do with SPMM Data

Roll & Mass Axis Calculations

Roll Axis And Mass Parameter gives an idea of the distance

between the mass axis and the roll axis of the vehicle.
What do I do with SPMM Data

Ride Characteristics

Suspension Travel
Ride Rates
Jounce Bumper
Transition & Rate
Tire Stiffness
Fore / Aft Stiffness
Wheel Recession in
Jounce
Suspension Friction
What do I do with SPMM Data

Ride Characteristics
What do I do with SPMM Data

Ride Characteristics
What do I do with SPMM Data

Olley Criteria

Front to rear ride rate ratio

Spring center location
Pitch and bounce frequency ratio
Pitch and bounce frequencies