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GRASP Lab Seminar 2003-2004
October 31, 11:00 AM, Levine Hall 307, hosted by Vijay Kumar.
Makoto Hasegawa
Honda Motors
Development of a Virtual Road Simulator for Motorcyles
Abstract: In the HONDA R&D Asaka center, we develop all new models of HONDA motorcycles. I was in the 'Fatigue and Strength' group for 7 years and tested motorcycles. As you know it is very important to reduce development time and cost. So I developed a method to predict the strength of a complete motorcycle before it is manufactured at the drawing stage. The linear static analysis using Finite Element Method (hereafter referred to as FEM) has been available for prediction of strength for fixing specifications at the drawing stage. The number of applications of this method during the design phase has been increasing. This is an effective method when boundary conditions and load conditions are clear. However, this method cannot be applied to parts on which multiple loads are applied at different times, or parts having local vibration modes. To solve this problem, Honda has developed a Virtual Road Simulator (hereafter referred to as VRS) system that reproduces Road Simulator [1] (hereafter referred to as RS) durability test. The VRS conducts dynamic analysis using Multi Body Simulation (hereafter referred to as MBS) technology. As a result, the reproduction of RS durability test of a complete motorcycle with a prediction of the fatigue life as well as the stress waveforms of the high-stress regions became possible. I will present an overview of the results that were recently presented at the 2001 International Pacific Conference in Shanghai, describing the virtual road simulator technology and the underlying analysis methods and technology.
Biography: Mr. Makoto Hasegawa is from HONDA R&D Co., Ltd. Asaka center. He is a visiting scientist at the University of Pennsylvania for 13 months. In the Asaka center, Makoto works to develop all models of HONDA motorcycles. His position in Japan is the testing of all new HONDA motorcycles.
