The Kinematics and Compliance (K&C) Facility at MIRA is now well established as the only twin axle SPMM (Suspension Parameter Measuring Machine) in the UK and is still the benchmark design for such rigs. More than 1200 vehicles have been tested in over 15 years since its installation, ranging from F1 cars to minibuses.
The facility provides an essential service to all areas of the automotive industry, whether it’s for benchmarking competitor products, developing prototypes, validating new designs or supporting CAE activities.
Suspension and steering system characteristics are measured after applying individual or combined motions or forces to the vehicle. The vehicle body can be fixed or displaced in heave, roll or pitch whilst cornering, braking or traction forces are applied as required. The steering system can also be independently controlled. Over 150 individual channels are recorded to provide a multitude of vehicle properties including wheel rates, steer and camber change and lateral and longitudinal suspension swing arm vectors.
The facility is used regularly by the majority of F1 teams with Touring, DTM and rally cars also taking advantage of its benefits. Over the years, MIRA has amassed a wealth of experience on the best ways of attaching different chassis and suspension systems to the rig. That same experience can also guide you on the most appropriate techniques for capturing the measurements you require and help to determine the cause of any specific problems displayed by the vehicle.
The rig provides easy access to the vehicle at all times, allowing for quick component changes, and tests can be repeated in minutes. Vehicles can be tested at different weight configurations and ride heights using the rig itself to implement the change. All tests are individually customised with results provided in live data feeds.
Individual axles can be tested independently and rigs fabricated to exclude the chassis completely. Additional sensors can be utilised to monitor properties such as vehicle body deflection or individual component displacements.
Typical vehicle characterisation takes two days and produces over 400 graphs of individual suspension characteristics. The rig is housed in its own private workshop, allowing sensitive vehicles to be tested anonymously.