Abstract: Dual steering systems with active steering systems and steering linkage are the development trend of multi-axle steering technology. Because of the interaction between different steering systems, tire wear exists in dual steering systems. For this reason, a new optimization method for steering linkage, i.e., dual limit objective optimization method, is proposed. According to the control strategy for active steering for rear axles and the relationship between vehicle velocities and wheel steering angles, the dual limit theoretical steering angles of each axle are determined within different range of wheel steering angles. By optimization analysis of steering linkage, the front steering center can be kept to coordinate with the rear steering center and the interaction between dual steering systems will be reduced to the maximum under different vehicle velocities and wheel steering angles. The above method has been used to optimize the steering linkage of 9-axle steering vehicles. By comparing the optimization results from the above method with that for the fixed steering center, the maximum deviation of wheel angles by the former was reduced by 30.9%-59.9% and the correctness and advantage of the new method has been verified. The new method is very important for guiding optimization of steering linkage of dual steering systems.

Key words: vehicle engineering;multi-axle steering;dual limit objective optimization method;dual steering system