<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The paper addresses the multi-body modelling of an electric wheelchair using Jourdain’s principle. First, a description of the adopted approach was presented. Next, the mathematical equations were developed to obtain the dynamic behaviour of the concerned system. The numerical computation was performed with MATLAB (matrix laboratory: a high performance language of technical computing) and validated by MBD (Multi-Body Dynamics) for Ansys, a professional multi-body dynamics simulation software powered by RecurDyn. Afterwards, the model was treated as an objective function included in genetic algorithm. The goal was to improve the ride quality and the road holding as well as the suspension workspace. The multi-objective optimisation aimed to reduce the Root-Mean-Square (RMS) of the seat’s vertical acceleration, the wheels load and the workspace modulus by varying the bodies’ masses, the spring-damper coefficients and the characteristics of the tires. Acceptable solutions were captured on the Pareto fronts, in contrast to the relatively considerable processing time involved in the use of a random road profile generated by the power spectral density (PSD). During the process, the compatibility and the efficiency of Jourdain’s equations were inspected.</p>
</abstract>

The paper addresses the multi-body modelling of an electric wheelchair using Jourdain’s principle. First, a description of the adopted approach was presented. Next, the mathematical equations were developed to obtain the dynamic behaviour of the concerned system. The numerical computation was performed with MATLAB (matrix laboratory: a high performance language of technical computing) and validated by MBD (Multi-Body Dynamics) for Ansys, a professional multi-body dynamics simulation software powered by RecurDyn. Afterwards, the model was treated as an objective function included in genetic algorithm. The goal was to improve the ride quality and the road holding as well as the suspension workspace. The multi-objective optimisation aimed to reduce the Root-Mean-Square (RMS) of the seat’s vertical acceleration, the wheels load and the workspace modulus by varying the bodies’ masses, the spring-damper coefficients and the characteristics of the tires. Acceptable solutions were captured on the Pareto fronts, in contrast to the relatively considerable processing time involved in the use of a random road profile generated by the power spectral density (PSD). During the process, the compatibility and the efficiency of Jourdain’s equations were inspected.

Multi-Objective Optimisation of the Electric Wheelchair Ride Comfort and Road Holding Based on Jourdain’s Principle Model and Genetic Algorithm

Faculty of Technology; Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mechanics of Structures and Solids Laboratory

Acta Mechanica et Automatica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The paper addresses the multi-body modelling of an electric wheelchair using Jourdain’s principle. First, a description of the adopted approach was presented....

Multi-Objective Optimisation of the Electric Wheelchair Ride Comfort and Road Holding Based on Jourdain’s Principle Model and Genetic Algorithm

Publié en ligne: 04 févr. 2022

Pages: 58 - 69

Reçu: 23 mars 2021

Accepté: 30 nov. 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ama-2022-0008

Mots clés
multi-body systems, Jourdain’s principle, electric wheelchair, multi-objective optimisation, genetic algorithm

© 2022 Mohamed Belhorma et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Multi-Objective Optimisation of the Electric Wheelchair Ride Comfort and Road Holding Based on Jourdain’s Principle Model and Genetic Algorithm

Publié en ligne: 04 févr. 2022

Pages: 58 - 69

Reçu: 23 mars 2021

Accepté: 30 nov. 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ama-2022-0008

Mots clésmulti-body systems, Jourdain’s principle, electric wheelchair, multi-objective optimisation, genetic algorithm

© 2022 Mohamed Belhorma et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
multi-body systems, Jourdain’s principle, electric wheelchair, multi-objective optimisation, genetic algorithm