K&C Test Planning

Planning a K&C Test to Meet Your Goals

Suspension kinematics and compliance testing is incredibly powerful when planned well. At Morse Measurements we work to get the customer answers to their specific questions. Oftentimes these answers can be found through a standard series of tests. If not, we have the experience required to design a unique series of tests, or even develop new tests, to get the answers. We use our 15 years of experience to help you with your K&C test planning.

In the production vehicle and motorsports industries there are many common objectives that customers have for K&C testing. Let’s work through a few of those objectives and see how we can plan tests to reach them.

 

Production Vehicle Test Planning Objectives

Planning a K&C Test to Meet Goals

Suspension kinematics and compliance testing is incredibly powerful when planned well. At Morse Measurements we work to get the customer answers to their specific questions. Oftentimes these answers can be found through a standard series of tests. If not, we have the experience required to design a unique series of tests, or even develop new tests, to get the answers. We use our 15 years of experience to help you with your K&C test planning.

n the production vehicle and motorsports industries there are many common objectives that customers have for K&C testing. Let’s work through a few of those objectives and see how we can plan tests to reach them.

 

Production Vehicle Test Planning Objectives

Goal: Measure the suspension data required for an accurate CarSim® model
A series of K&C tests will provide the data necessary for front & rear suspension models, steering system models, and some chassis modeling in the CarSim® environment. Morse Measurements can also provide additional part measurements beyond K&C testing that can help with model building (damper characteristics, unsprung mass measurements, etc.). As a supplement to the actual test data, Morse Measurements will provide an expanded PARS file that will import directly into CarSim®. Center of gravity and moment of inertia measurements can be easily made through a local partner.
Goal: Benchmark a competitor’s vehicle to evaluate their design decisions
A series of K&C test will be run revealing numerous suspension design decisions and their cumulative consequences in suspension performance under load. The effects of compliance on the suspension will be measured, with longitudinal, lateral, and aligning torque loads being applied at the tire contact patch. Easy to read reports will provide detailed data along with linear rates of change, allowing for differing levels analysis and comparison. Morse Measurements can also provide additional part measurements beyond K&C testing, through suspension CMM.
Goal: Evaluate the effect of an aftermarket suspension component
A small number of K&C tests can be run to characterize the suspension with and without the component installed on the vehicle. The component change can normally be accomplished without removing the vehicle from the rig, oftentimes allowing for multiple component changes to be made in a single test day.
Goal: Evaluate prototype build
In order to evaluate a prototype build a series of K&C tests will be run that will characterize the geometry and performance of the design. The results can then be compared to the expected performance based on the design. K&C testing provides a more comprehensive understanding of how well a prototype build lines up with the design.

 

Motorsports Test Planning Objectives

 

Motorsports Test Planning Objectives

Goal: Generate baseline data
Race teams often don’t have much information on the car they are running, and are often suspicious of the data provided by manufacturers. This is where K&C testing comes in, providing objective measurements on the actual car. Data you can use to make the car faster, right away.
Goal: Simulation Validation
Many race teams are utilizing simulation to arrive at the track with a closer to optimal setup. K&C testing can help you validate the accuracy of your simulation and/or adjust parameters to improve its performance.
Goal: Evaluate effect of part changes
The K&C rig is the ideal place to measure the impact of part changes. With limited on-track testing, you can measure the effect of various part changes in a controlled, repeatable, laboratory environment. While some parameters can be easily calculated, others, like the anti-roll bar stiffness contribution, are notoriously difficult. This is where K&C measurements are invaluable.
Goal: Validate suspension performance for a specific track
K&C tests can be customized to the specific loading conditions the car experiences at each track. This allows race teams to measure the exact response of the car and fine tune to a specific race track.
Goal: Compare two different cars
Sometimes, race teams can build two different cars that are supposed to be the same. But on track, the performance is very different. One might be a potential race winner, while the other one becomes a show car. Why are these two cars so different? K&C testing can help identify the differences that make one car better than the other.