Advanced Vehicle Systems

Our research work on multibody dynamics and design optimization has been applied to the optimal design of road and rail vehicles. In particular, we have optimized the suspension design of a Lola World Sports Car (above) for Multimatic, Inc., and the design of a rail vehicle with passive and active suspension components for Bombardier Inc.  We are currently working on the dynamics and stability of a heavy off-road vehicle with an articulated main body.

To further this research, Prof. McPhee has co-founded the Advanced Vehicle Systems group at the University of Waterloo.

Selected Publications:

• H. Vogt, C. Schmitke, K. Jalali, and J. McPhee, Real-Time Dynamics Simulation of an Electric Vehicle with In-Wheel Motors, to appear in Int. J. Veh. Auto. Sys.
• N. Azad, A. Khajepour and J. McPhee, A Survey on Stability Enhancement Strategies for Articulated Steer Vehicles, to appear in Int. J. Heavy Veh. Sys.
• N. L. Azad, A. Khajepour, and J. McPhee, Articulated Steer Vehicles: Dynamics and Control, VDM Verlag, 2008. (ISBN: 978-3-8364-5665-4)
• K. Jalali, K. Bode, S. Lambert, and J. McPhee, Design of an Advanced Traction Controller for an Electric Vehicle Equipped with Four Direct Driven In-Wheel Motors, Proc. SAE World Congress, Detroit, 8 pages, 2008.
• N. Azad, A. Khajepour and J. McPhee, Robust Variable Structure Control for Stabilization of Articulated Steer Vehicles by Torque Vectoring, Int. J. Heavy Veh. Sys., v.14, 331-354, 2007.
• N. Azad, A. Khajepour and J. McPhee, Robust State Feedback Stabilization of Articulated Steer Vehicles, Veh. Sys. Dyn., v.45, 249-275, 2007.
• N. Azad, A. Khajepour and J. McPhee, The Effects of Locking Differentials on the Snaking Mode of Articulated Steer Vehicles, Int. J. Veh. Sys. Model. Test., v.2, 101-127, 2007.
• N. Azad, J. McPhee, and A. Khajepour, Off-road Lateral Stability Analysis of an Articulated Steer Vehicle with a Rear-mounted Load, Int. J. Veh. Sys. Model. Test., v.1, 106-130, 2005.
• Y. He, N. Lashgarian, C. Urbaniak, A. Khajepour, and J. McPhee, Lateral Stability Analysis and Parameter Estimation of Articulated Frame Steer Vehicles, CSME Forum, University of Western Ontario, London, June 2004, pp.962-971.
  
• Y. He and J. McPhee, Multidisciplinary Optimization of Multibody Systems with Application to the Design of Rail Vehicles, to appear in Multibody System Dynamics, 2005.
  
• Y. He and J. McPhee, Multidisciplinary Design Optimization of Mechatronic Vehicles with Active Suspensions, to appear in Journal of Sound and Vibration, 2005.
  
• Y. He and J. McPhee, A Design Methodology for Mechatronic Vehicles: Application of Multidisciplinary Optimization, Multibody Dynamics, and Genetic Algorithms, submitted to Vehicle System Dynamics, 2004.
  
• Y. He, A. Khajepour, J. McPhee, and X. Wang, Dynamic Modeling and Stability Analysis of Articulated Frame Steer Vehicles, International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, vol.12, no.1, 2004, pp.28-59.
  
• Y. He and J. McPhee, Optimization of Curving Performance of Rail Vehicles, submitted to Vehicle System Dynamics, 2003.
  
• A. Baumal and J. McPhee, On the Use of Numerical Optimization to Maximize the Critical Velocity of a Simple Rail Vehicle, Transactions of the CSME, vol.26, no.3, 2002, pp.311-322. Winner of Award for Best Paper of 2002.
  
• Y. He and J. McPhee, Optimization of the Lateral Stability of Rail Vehicles, Vehicle System Dynamics, vol.38, no.5, 2002, pp.361-390
  
• Y. He and J. McPhee, Application of SQP and Dynamic Mode Tracking to the Identification of the Critical Speed of Rail Vehicles, submitted to International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2004.
  
• A. Baumal and J. McPhee, On the Use of Numerical Optimization to Maximize the Critical Velocity of a Simple Rail Vehicle , to appear in Transactions of the CSME, 2002.
  
• Y. He and J. McPhee, Application of SQP and Dynamic Mode Tracking to the Identification of the Critical Speed of Rail Vehicles, submitted to Journal of Sound and Vibration , 2002.
  
• I. Bruulsema and J. McPhee, Dynamic Modelling and Design Optimization of Automotive Suspension Systems, submitted to Transactions of the CSME, 2001.
  
• Y. He and J. McPhee, Design Optimization of Rail Vehicles with Passive and Active Suspensions: A Combined Approach using Genetic Algorithms and Multibody Dynamics, Proceedings of the 17th IAVSD Symposium on the Dynamics of Vehicles on Road and Tracks, Denmark, August 2001.
  
• A.E. Baumal, J.J. McPhee, and P.H. Calamai, Application of Genetic Algorithms to the Optimization of an Active Vehicle Suspension Design, Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, vol.163, pp.87-94, 1998.
  
• J.J. McPhee and R.J. Anderson, A Model Reduction Procedure for the Dynamic Analysis of Rail Vehicles Subjected to Linear Creep Forces, Vehicle System Dynamics , vol.25, pp.349-367, 1996.
  
• R.J. Anderson and J.J. McPhee, Use of a Model Reduction Procedure to Speed Up Time-Domain Simulations of Rail Vehicles , Vehicle System Dynamics, Supplement to vol.23, pp.20-33, 1994