1. WORKSHOP 1
INTRODUCTION

3. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION
Problem Statement
Get familiarized with the Adams/Chassis interface and understand the product’s importance to the virtual prototyping process. Using an example model, exercise the left and right wheel centers of a front suspension subsystem to their jounce and rebound position. You then analyze the effects of static wheel alignment properties.
Model description
Use the achassis_gs model that is included in the library of example vehicle databases that comes with Adams/Chassis.
The front suspension of the achassis_gs vehicle uses a short-long arm (SLA) front suspension with rack and pinion steering.
You will exercise the suspension and plot the results. You change the tire/wheel orientation and compare the results to the original

4. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
Starting Adams/Chassis
In this section you learn how to start Adams/Chassis in the UNIX and Windows environment. You must run Adams/Chassis in a directory to which you have write permission.
To start Adams/Chassis on Windows:
From the Start menu, point to Programs, point to MSC.Software, point to Adams x , point to AChassis, and then select Adams-Chassis.
The Adams/Chassis main window appears as shown on the next page.

5. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
To start Adams/Chassis on UNIX:
At the command prompt, enter the command to start the MSC.Adams Toolbar, and then click/select Enter. The standard command is Adamsx, where x is the version number, for example Adams2012.
Click the Adams/Chassis tool.
The Adams/Chassis Build mode appears as shown next.

6. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
Tree View
Property editor

7. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
Setting Preferences:
Here you set up you working directory and temporary files directory.
To set up preferences:
On the tools menu, click Edit and then click Preferences.
The Preferences window appears.
In the Preferences window, select the Find tool next to Current Working Directory.
Browse for Folder window appears.
Select a current working directory from the list, and then click OK.
In the Preferences window, make sure that a text editor is present for Text Editor Command.
Optionally, enter a Graphical Difference Command to launch a graphical differencing tool such as SGI/usr/sbin/gdiff or freeware tool, ExamDiff for Windows.

8. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
In the Preferences window, select the Find tool next to Temporary Files Directory.
Select a directory from the Browse for Folder window, and then click OK.
Note: This directory must already exist and the directory path must not contain spaces.
The remaining options in the Preferences window are optional.

9. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
Copying Example Vehicle Database
In this section, you load example data files for your Adams/Chassis session. Data files are the inputs to Adams/Chassis. They contain the full set of parameters for vehicle models.
To Copy a Database:
In the Build mode, from the Utilities menu, select Database Utilities.
The Database Utilities window appears.
In the Copy Database tab, select the Find tool
Browse for Folder window appears.
Select achassis_gs.vdb, and then click OK.
In the Database Utilities window, select Copy Database to Working Directory.
Adams/Chassis copies the achassis_gs example database to your working directory.

10. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
To Copy a Database:
At the prompt, click OK.
Close the Database Utilities window.

11. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
Registering a Database
You can reference multiple registered databases for access. Databases are registered in the Preferences window. Here you register achassis_gs.vdb.
To Register a Database:
From the Edit menu, select Preferences.
In the Database Registration section, click Add New.
Select achassis_gs.vdb from your working directory, and then click OK.
Click Save to save these settings.

12. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
Selecting a Vehicle System File
From the Build toolbar, click the Load Model button.
In the Select File window, select achassis_gs from the Registered Databases section.
Select achassis_gs_front_sys.xml, and then click Open.
Adams/Chassis loads the model into the treeview.

13. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
Running an Analysis
You now run an analysis on the front suspension to exercise the left and right wheel centers 20 mm into jounce, then 20 mm into rebound.
To Run an Analysis:
From the Main toolbar, select Test mode
In the bookshelf, expand Suspension.
Double-click Front Ride Motion.
You will see that the event, achassis_gs_front_sys_fride,
has been added to the fingerprint tree and displayed in the
property editor.

14. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
To Run an Analysis:
Do one of the following:
Right-click achassis_gs_front_sys_fride and then select Build and Run Selected Events.
Select the Build and Run Selected Events tool
When the event is complete, close the command window

15. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
Animating a Model
You animate the model to see the effects of the analysis, to check that your model is being assembled as you like, and to check model geometry.
To Animate Your Model:
From the Main toolbar, select Review mode
In the treeview, select achassis_gs_front_sys_fride.
From the toolbar, select the Execute Selected Animations tool
Adams/Chassis launches Adams/PostProcessor, a post-processing tool that lets you view the results of simulations you performed.

16. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
On the menu toolbar, click the Play tool
This animates the ride motion simulation.
After the suspension goes through a complete animation, click the Pause tool
To exit Adams/PostProcessor, click File on the tools menu, then click Exit, and then click Exit, Don’t Save.

17. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
Plotting Analysis Results
Most Adams/Chassis standard analyses have plots or reports, or both, associated with them. For the half-suspension ride motion analysis, there are plots and reports.
To check if there are plots or reports associated with the analysis you just ran, look for checkboxes in the property editor, next to analysis name, under Plots and Reports.
Notice that there are plots and reports associated with the achassis_gs_front_sys_fride analysis.

18. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
To Plot Analysis Results:
In the Adams/Chassis window, make sure that achassis_gs_front_sys_fride is selected in the treeview.
From the toolbar, select the Execute Selected Plots tool
To display the plots, Adams/Chassis launches Adams/PostProcessor. The standard plots for ride motion include:
Toe, caster, and camber versus wheel travel
Wheel rate versus wheel travel
Vertical force versus wheel travel
The figure on the next page shows some of the standard plots

19. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
To review the different plot pages, in the treeview on the left, click each page.
From the File menu, select Exit.
Adams/PostProcessor prompts you to save the plots.
Click Exit, don’t save.

20. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
Running an Analysis with Alignment
In this section, you run an analysis with the same model data, but with toe, caster, and camber alignment. Before you run the analysis, you add an event to your session. We call this a fingerprint session. You can save and load fingerprints. In Adams/Chassis, you can create an unlimited number of events in a single session.
When using a fingerprint, you can refer to the same vehicle configuration files for all the analyses, or use different vehicle configuration files.
To add an event tab to the current fingerprint:
From the Main toolbar, click Test mode
From the bookshelf, double-click Front Ride Motion.
Adams/Chassis adds another analysis to your fingerprint tree. The second analysis refers to the same vehicle configuration files as the first analysis. If you modify one of the vehicle configuration files, the modification will affect future builds for both events. Adding an event did not create copies of the vehicle configuration file or database; that is, the second analysis will use the same files.

21. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
To Run an Analysis With Alignment:
In the property editor, select Front Auto-Alignment.
Set Total Toe to 0.1.
Set Avg. Caster to 4.0.
Set Avg. Camber to -0.5.
Click/Select the Build and Run Selected Events tool
Adams/Chassis analyzes your model. At the beginning of the analysis, Adams/Chassis invokes the auto-aligner. The auto-aligner adjusts various parts of the front suspension to iteratively achieve the desired values for toe, caster, and camber.
When the analysis is complete, close the window.

22. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
Comparing Results
In this section you compare the results of the two analyses you ran
To Compare Results:
From the Main toolbar, select Review mode
Note that both analyses appear in the fingerprint tree.
Shift-click to select both analyses in the fingerprint tree.
Verify that Overlay Plots/Reports of Same Events is checked.
This option overlays the plot data for the two analyses so you can easily compare results.
Select Execute Selected Plots
Adams/PostProcessor displays two curves in every plot, similar to those on the next page

23. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)

24. WORKSHOP 1 – INTRODUCTION (CONT.)
Notice that for achassis_gs_front_sys_fride_2:
achassis_gs_front_sys_fride_2 is aligned at zero wheel travel.
The curve for LF wheel travel versus toe intersects the x-axis at 0.05 degrees. You input 0.1 total toe, which is left toe plus right toe.
Caster intersects at 4.0 degrees.
Camber intersects at -0.5 degrees.
From the File menu, select Exit, and then select Exit, don’t save.
Adams/Chassis returns to the main window.