Analysis of a quarter car suspension system based on nonlinear shock absorber damping models

Headnote

ABSTRACT

Shock absorber is a critical element of vehicle suspension system with nonlinear characteristics. In the present work, performance of vehicle characteristics was analysed by quarter car model to study the effect of shock absorber, on the basis of linear and nonlinear damping characteristics. In addition to linear and piecewise linear, polynomial damping characteristics were considered to address the nonlinear aspect of damping characteristics. The linear and nonlinear properties of the shock absorber were incorporated in a two degree of freedom quarter car suspension system. The modelling and simulation is carried out in Adams view environment and Matlab/Simulink. A bump road profile was used to excite the quarter car suspension models. The polynomial shock absorber model was validated using experimental data taken from established literature. Simulation was undertaken to study the dynamic performance in terms of sprung mass acceleration, body displacement, suspension deflection and unsprung mass acceleration. Experimental hysteresis characteristics data, taken from established literature, were also modelled in Adams view environment and the simulated results were used for validation purpose. The suspension system response incorporating shock absorber represented by nonlinear model, hysteresis model and piece wise linear model were provided in the result section for comparison. It was observed from quantitative comparisons that the RMS values for body acceleration and body displacement of the polynomial model matched fairly well with the results of experimental hysteresis response. It was concluded that in order to study the dynamic characteristics of the vehicle accurately, nonlinear behaviour of the damper is required to be captured properly. Therefore, the proposed polynomial shock absorber model can be a better option for vehicle dynamic analysis as compared to the complex hysteresis model.

Keywords: Shock absorber; linear; piecewise linear; polynomial; quarter car; Adams view; Simulink.

(ProQuest: ... denotes formulae omitted.)

INTRODUCTION

The suspension system is a mechanism that physically separates the car body from the car wheel. The main function of the vehicle suspension system is to minimise the vertical acceleration transmitted to the passenger from the ground, providing better ride comfort [1-3]. Due to the decades of research work in the field, various types of suspension system are in use at present. However, work is going on to develop better quality of suspension systems. Hence, the dynamic simulation and analysis...