Documentary analysis of traffic safety during informal calculation of vehicle suspension

Abstract

The article investigates the impact of an informal (estimative) approach to the calculation and modification of automobile suspension systems on road traffic safety. It is shown that the use of simplified or empirical methods without proper engineering verification, which is common among car enthusiasts and in small-scale production, can lead to significant deviations in the dynamic characteristics of a vehicle. Such deviations adversely affect stability, handling, ride comfort, and braking efficiency, thereby increasing the risk of road traffic accidents.

The study considers basic physical and mathematical models of suspension system operation, in particular the quarter-car model, which makes it possible to assess the influence of spring stiffness, damping coefficient, and tire stiffness on the vertical vibrations of the vehicle body and wheel. The consequences of neglecting these parameters during informal interventions in suspension design are analyzed.

An original D3A road safety documentary analysis methodology (Documentation Layer, Data Layer, Delta Analysis) is proposed. This methodology integrates the analysis of technical documentation, digital operational data, and a comparative assessment of deviations in key parameters. The approach is tested using a case study of a Volkswagen Golf V passenger car after an informal modification of the front suspension components. The results indicate a significant increase in vibration decay time, natural frequency, and vertical body acceleration, which confirms a mismatch between spring stiffness and damping characteristics.

The proposed methodology enables the identification of potentially hazardous suspension modifications under conditions of limited engineering support and can be applied by vehicle owners, automotive service providers, and technical auditors to improve road traffic safety.