Thesis work - Refining ride comfort - connecting road, rig and simulation results - a half-car model

About this opportunity - Background

Ride comfort is a measure of how comfortable it is to be in the vehicle with regards to body motions and harsh road inputs.

At Volvo Cars we objectively assess the ride comfort, Ride DNA, through track testing. This is evaluated by equipping the vehicle with sensors and collecting data while driving over various tracks with obstacles inside Hällered Proving Ground. Complementing the Ride DNA are measurements done on our stationary rigs in laboratories. Two such rigs are the four-poster rig and the Suspension Parameter Measurement Machine (SPMM). The four-poster rig is capable of simulating road conditions in the vertical axis. The SPMM is a Kinematics and Compliance (K&C) test machine that is used to estimate the geometry and stiffness of the vehicle’s suspension system under quasi static conditions. 

These rigs and track measurements are an integral part of our vehicle development process, and we aim to build a simple model to assess the ride attributes, parametrized from measurement data.

A successful thesis was carried out on this topic in 2025. Models and Measurements from this thesis are available as reference. The proposed thesis for 2026 aims to introduce non linearities to the model, enhancing its depth and analytical capabilities.

Scope of the thesis work

Milestones
•    Develop a parametrization process for an enhanced longitudinal model using measurements done driving over cleats. 
•    Secure that the longitudinal models accurately capture the trends across the three cars that have been measured. Modify the models if necessary.
•    Build a half car vertical model for multiple combinations of subsystems and components with dampers and end stops modelled as nonlinear elements 
•    Parametrization process for the half car model using SPMM rig and four-poster rig measurements
•    Validate the simulation results against the results from track testing

What you'll bring

Required: Master students in mechanical engineering, physics or equivalent. Comfortable user of Matlab/Simulink and/or Python. Good knowledge of vehicle dynamics. Valid B-level driving license.

Duration

•    The work will start in January 2026 
•    The duration for this thesis work is 20 weeks.
•    30 ECTS (Master academic credits) in agreement with your Thesis Advisor in University
•    This thesis is to be conducted by 2 Students working in pair.