ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a MATLAB® program that is based on the body-coordinate formulation. The program is capable of performing kinematic, inverse dynamic, and forward dynamic analyses by integrating the equations of motion. An animation program that provides a simple animated stick-drawing of the dynamic response of the analyzed model accompanies the analysis program. The chapter provides initial conditions on the coordinates and velocities. The initial conditions must satisfy the constraints at the coordinates and velocities. The chapter constructs three different models for MacPherson suspension system demonstrating how to take advantage of composite joints for reducing the size of a model. It performs a simulation with multibody model from an initial state where the wheel/tire is not in contact with the ground. The spring-damper representing the tire is modeled similar to that in the double A-arm suspension model. The model assumes that the main frame of the car is stationary.
