Magneto-rheological suspensions for improving ground vehicle’s ride comfort,stability, and handling

ABSTRACT

A state-of-the-art discussion on the applications of magneto-rheological (MR) suspensions for improving ride comfort, handling, and stability in ground vehicles is discussed for both road and rail applications. A historical perspective on the discovery and engineering development of MR fluids is presented, followed by some of the common methods for modelling their non-Newtonian behaviour. The common modes of the MR fluids are discussed, along with the application of the fluid in valve mode for ground vehicles’ dampers (or shock absorbers). The applications span across nearly all road vehicles, including automobiles, trains, semi-trucks, motorcycles, and even bicycles. For each type of vehicle, the results of some of the past studies is presented briefly, with reference to the originating study. It is discussed that Past experimental and modelling studies have indicated that MR suspensions provide clear advantages for ground vehicles that far surpasses the performance of passive suspension. For rail vehicles, the primary advantage is in terms of increasing the speed at which the onset of hunting occurs, whereas for road vehicles – mainly automobiles – the performance improvements are in terms of a better balance between vehicle ride, handling, and stability. To further elaborate on this point, a single-suspension model is used to develop an index-based approach for studying the compromise that is offered by vehicle suspensions, using the H₂ optimisation approach. Evaluating three indices based on the sprung-mass acceleration, suspension rattlespace, and tyre deflection, it is clearly demonstrated that MR suspensions significantly improve road vehicle’s ride comfort, stability, and handling in comparison with passive suspensions. For rail vehicles, the simulation results indicate that using MR suspensions with an on-off switching control can increase the speed at which the on-set of hunting occurs by as much as 50% to more than 300%.     

重型商用车驾驶室悬置结构对平顺性影响的试验研究

以某重型商用车驾驶室悬置系统为例,通过实车道路试验,研究了四弹簧,四气囊悬置减振系统的振动特性在A级路面和B级路面对车辆行驶平顺性的影响规律。试验结果表明,四气囊驾驶室悬置系统的平顺性整体优于四弹簧驾驶室悬置结构。     

汽车减震器变硬现象原因分析

汽车减震器通过长时间的使用以后,减震器变软或变硬。本文件探讨了减振器硬度的原因:在进行耐久性测试之后,从减振器油中提取减振器油,以分析减振油制剂性能的变化。为了加速减振车架和车身的振动,以提高车辆的可读性("舒适性"),在大多数车辆的悬挂系统内装有减震器的车辆减震器也称作"悬挂",弹簧和减震器的化合物,缓冲器不用来承受车身的重量,但是,当弹簧吸收弹簧时,可以容纳冲击和吸收表面冲击的能量。反弹弹簧用于缓冲冲击,将"高能量二次冲击"转换为"低能量多次冲击",而减震器则逐渐减少"多重低能量冲击"。     

基于近似模型的车辆操纵稳定性及平顺性的优化研究

简述了基于近似模型的车辆操纵稳定性及平顺性的优化设计方法.利用多体动力学软件ADAMS/Car建立了某轿车整车多体动力学模型,并确定了车辆操纵稳定性及平顺性的评价目标.以悬架弹簧刚度、减振器阻尼特性和横向稳定杆刚度为设计变量,利用近似优化数学模型对该轿车进行了操纵稳定性和行驶平顺性的多目标优化计算.结果表明,近似模型技术对于汽车性能的平衡优化是一种十分有效的方法.     

脉冲路面下轮毂电机偏心对电动汽车平顺性影响

为了分析脉冲路面下轮毂电机偏心对电动汽车平顺性的影响,给出了脉冲路面车轮激励和开关磁阻电机激励的表示。建立了考虑轮毂电机质量和轮毂电机激励的电动汽车平面4自由度振动模型,推导出相应的状态方程和输出向量,确定了脉冲路面平顺性评价指标。实现了脉冲路面车轮激励和轮毂电机激励的仿真,在脉冲路面下进行了4种工况的平顺性仿真和比较。结果表明,脉冲路面下轮毂电机偏心对电动汽车平顺性有着不可忽视的影响,设计电动汽车时需要考虑轮毂电机偏心带来的负效应。     

汽车筒式液阻减振器技术的发展

分析了汽车乘坐舒适性／行驶平顺性和操作稳定性对筒式液阻减振器特性的要求，提出汽车在不同行驶工况减振器特性的要求是不的；分析了被动式减振器的发展历程及非充气和充气减振器的特点，阐述了机械控制式可调阻尼减振器，电子控制式减振器以及电流变和磁流变液体减器等的结构特点，工作原理及其动态特性；分析了筒式液阻减振器其于经验设计／实验修正开发方法的缺点，阐述了基于CAD／CAE技术的现代设计开发方法的过程及其关键问题，最后分析了我国筒式液阻减振器技术的发展状况及问题，展望了减振器技术的发展前景。     

State observer-based sliding mode control for semi-active hydro-pneumatic suspension

This paper proposes an improved virtual reference model for semi-active suspension to coordinate the vehicle ride comfort and handling stability. The reference model combines the virtues of sky-hook with ground-hook control logic, and the hybrid coefficient is tuned according to the longitudinal and lateral acceleration so as to improve the vehicle stability especially in high-speed condition. Suspension state observer based on unscented Kalman filter is designed. A sliding mode controller (SMC) is developed to track the states of the reference model. The stability of the SMC strategy is proven by means of Lyapunov function taking into account the nonlinear damper characteristics and sprung mass variation of the vehicle. Finally, the performance of the controller is demonstrated under three typical working conditions: the random road excitation, speed bump road and sharp acceleration and braking. The simulation results indicated that, compared with the traditional passive suspension, the proposed control algorithm can offer a better coordination between vehicle ride comfort and handling stability. This approach provides a viable alternative to costlier active suspension control systems for commercial vehicles.     

Hybrid neural network model for history-dependent automotive shock absorbers

The method of numerical multi-body simulation is an often used and well-understood development tool in the automotive industry. In order to reproduce the ride comfort or handling behaviour of vehicles, mathematical models have to be built up. To achieve accurate simulation results, highly detailed component models are required. However, the formulation of appropriate physically-based model equations of complex automotive components (e.g. air springs, shock absorbers, rubber bearings, tyres, etc.) can be very difficult. To handle this, empirical modelling methods have been developed. Simple algebraic equations are used to describe complex system behaviour. This simplification is very effective, although it largely ignores the natural laws of mechanics and thermodynamics but is still capable to predict the component response. This article illustrates how to take advantage of this approach in numerical simulations. We describe the development of a hybrid automotive shock absorber model based on both spline and neural network (NN) approaches. By combining these different approaches, an accurate model is achieved without loss of variability. Non-isothermal laboratory force-displacement measurements of an automotive shock absorber are being used to estimate the parameters of the NN. As shown, the model replicates the measured data with sufficient accuracy, especially the hysteresis. Finally, we present a set of quarter-car simulations with a built-in hybrid NN shock absorber.     

汽车设计中减震器相对阻尼系数的确定

减震器相对阻尼系数直接影响汽车行驶平顺性，在国内汽车设计中，其确定方法尚未得到较好的解决。本文利用新车设计阶段所能获得的汽车振动系统基本系数，尝试了一种确定减震器相对阻尼系数的方法，并应用于ＺＱ６４５０轻型客车的设计中，通过行驶平顺性试验，证明收到了十分满意的效果。     

松软路面突变性对车辆垂向振动的影响

为了在越野行驶车辆平顺性仿真系统中实时动态反映车辆的振动特性,提出了基于小波变换的松软越野路面突变性描述方法并分析突变性对车辆垂向振动的影响。通过小波变换对路面奇异点进行测定和定位,把越野车辆平顺性仿真系统看作是在有限时间内受到随机载荷激励的动力系统,分析其受路面突变载荷的车辆的垂直振动响应方差。结果表明,小波变换能较准确地判定路面奇异点并对其定位,可为越野车辆平顺性虚拟测试系统提供路面随机输入。     

The Development and Implementation of Adaptive Semi-Active Suspension Control*

Using adjustable shock absorbers within vehicle suspension systems, it is possible to improve ride comfort significantly when a control strategy is applied based on the so-called skyhook principle. However, the drawback is a poorly damped wheel-hop mode which makes the road holding ability worse. Using adaptive semi-active suspension control based on the tire load variations as introduced in this paper, the trade-off between road holding and ride comfort can be relaxed. Implementation of adaptive skyhook control requires the determination of a number of important and difficult to measure states of the vehicle. This can either be accomplished by several sensors and filters or by a state estimator in combination with less sensors and an internal model of the vehicle. Both methods are discussed. Finally some preliminary test results are discussed.     

Integration of car-body flexibility into train–track coupling system dynamics analysis

The resonance vibration of flexible car-bodies greatly affects the dynamics performances of high-speed trains. In this paper, we report a three-dimensional train–track model to capture the flexible vibration features of high-speed train carriages based on the flexible multi-body dynamics approach. The flexible car-body is modelled using both the finite element method (FEM) and the multi-body dynamics (MBD) approach, in which the rigid motions are obtained by using the MBD theory and the structure deformation is calculated by the FEM and the modal superposition method. The proposed model is applied to investigate the influence of the flexible vibration of car-bodies on the dynamics performances of train–track systems. The dynamics performances of a high-speed train running on a slab track, including the car-body vibration behaviour, the ride comfort, and the running safety, calculated by the numerical models with rigid and flexible car-bodies are compared in detail. The results show that the car-body flexibility not only significantly affects the vibration behaviour and ride comfort of rail carriages, but also can has an important influence on the running safety of trains. The rigid car-body model underestimates the vibration level and ride comfort of rail vehicles, and ignoring carriage torsional flexibility in the curving safety evaluation of trains is conservative.     

基于多体动力学的摩托车减振系统参数研究与优化设计

发动机和路面激励是摩托车的主要振动源,合理设计摩托车减震器的刚度和阻尼,对改善骑乘舒适性和安全性有重要意义.运用ADAMS软件建立125 mL摩托车模型,并对前后减震器参数进行优化计算,以求得到最好的减振效果.     

Possibilities to improve the ride and handling performance of delivery trucks by modern mechatronic systems

The ride and handling qualities of conventional delivery trucks are wores compared to modern passenger cars. However this vehicles have the power to drive as fast as passenger cars. Vehicle comfort and driving safety are mostly influenced by vertical accelerations and vehicle movements caused by pitch and roll motions. In the paper “Vehicle Dynamics with Adaptive or Semi-Active Suspension Systems – Demands on Software and Hardware” Wallentowitz and Ridlich have shown at AVEC'94 in which way tyre stiffness, shock absorber characteristics, spring stiffness and unsprung mass have an influence on vehicle comfort and active safety. They achieved these results by the theoretical analysis of a quarter-vehicle-model. Their examinations are extended in this paper on the model of a complete delivery truck. By the use of the multibody-simulation tool SIMPACK the road performance of a delivery truck will be analysed. Therefore a complex model of the vehicle has been built up in SIMPACK. Several computer simulations have been carried out to analyse the vehicle comfort and handling characteristics in different standard driving manoeuvres.Furthermore, the potential of improvements is shown by simulating different driving manoeuvres with the complete vehicle model by varying some vehicle characteristics such as tyre stiffness, shock absorber characteristics, spring stiffness and unsprung mass.In addition to that, simulations with models of unconventional spring- and damper-systems have been carried out to demonstrate the potential of improvements by the use of these systems. Two different controller algorithms for a semiactive and an active suspension system have been used an will be compared in this paper.     

The Development and Implementation of Adaptive Semi-Active Suspension Control*

SUMMARY

Using adjustable shock absorbers within vehicle suspension systems, it is possible to improve ride comfort significantly when a control strategy is applied based on the so-called skyhook principle. However, the drawback is a poorly damped wheel-hop mode which makes the road holding ability worse. Using adaptive semi-active suspension control based on the tire load variations as introduced in this paper, the trade-off between road holding and ride comfort can be relaxed. Implementation of adaptive skyhook control requires the determination of a number of important and difficult to measure states of the vehicle. This can either be accomplished by several sensors and filters or by a state estimator in combination with less sensors and an internal model of the vehicle. Both methods are discussed. Finally some preliminary test results are discussed.     

铰接式自卸车橡胶弹簧悬架系统试验研究

采用模拟随机输入路面谱激励室内台架试验的方法,对装有新型橡胶弹簧悬架系统的某型号铰接式自卸车进行台架试验研究,以评价橡胶弹簧悬架系统的减振性能和整车行驶平顺性。试验结果表明由于橡胶弹簧悬架系统某些参数匹配不合理导致该车行驶平顺性很不理想,通过优化悬架及座椅的刚度和阻尼参数,可提高整车行驶平顺性,并给出了座椅弹簧的优化结果。     

轮毂电机驱动电动汽车3种构型的平顺性分析

针对轮毂电机驱动电动汽车3种构型,对其平顺性问题展开研究。分别采用滤波白噪声方法和三角形凸块描述随机路面激励和脉冲路面激励。建立了轮毂电机驱动电动汽车3种构型的振动模型,确定了相应的平顺性评价指标。在随机路面和脉冲路面下,采用Matlab/Simulink仿真了轮毂电机驱动电动汽车3种构型的平顺性。研究结果表明,具有吸振结构的构型2和具有悬置结构的构型3与传统悬架的构型1相比,降低了轮毂电机驱动电动汽车随机路面和脉冲路面的平顺性评价指标。     

Active controller design for an electromagnetic energy-regenerative suspension

In this paper, with the parameters acquired from measured and tested data, a three-phase mathematical model is applied to the motor component of the developed electromagnetic suspension actuator. A main/inner-loop structure is used for its active control, and the constraints of the control current and energy flow states of actuator are analyzed by simplifying the inner-loop control system. Two different control modes, i.e., Consumptive Full Active (CFA) and Regenerative Semi Active (RSA) modes, which emphasize vibration control of sprung mass and vibration energy regeneration caused by road roughness, respectively, are proposed. Simulations are carried out using different road conditions, and the results demonstrate that the CFA mode can improve vehicle ride comfort by more than 30 percent, despite battery energy consumption; in RSA mode, the ride comfort can be improved by up to 10 percent with the battery charged by regenerated energy.     

A new passive approach to reducing the carbody vertical bending vibration of railway vehicles

This paper brings to view a new passive approach regarding the reduction of the flexible carbody vertical bending vibration of railway vehicles via two anti-bending bars fixed onto the longitudinal beams of a carbody underframe. The anti-bending bars operate as elastic elements limiting the rotation of the carbody cross-sections and thus increasing the bending carbody frequency. The anti-bending bars are dimensioned so that the frequency of the first bending mode of the carbody to be convenient in terms of ride comfort. The effectiveness in the use of the anti-bending bars is proven by the lowering of the vibration level and improvement of the vehicle ride comfort.     

Roll and pitch independently tuned interconnected suspension: modelling and dynamic analysis

In this paper, a roll and pitch independently tuned hydraulically interconnected passive suspension is presented. Due to decoupling of vibration modes and the improved lateral and longitudinal stability, the stiffness of individual suspension spring can be reduced for improving ride comfort and road grip. A generalised 14 degree-of-freedom nonlinear vehicle model with anti-roll bars is established to investigate the vehicle ride and handling dynamic responses. The nonlinear fluidic model of the hydraulically interconnected suspension is developed and integrated with the full vehicle model to investigate the anti-roll and anti-pitch characteristics. Time domain analysis of the vehicle model with the proposed suspension is conducted under different road excitations and steering/braking manoeuvres. The dynamic responses are compared with conventional suspensions to demonstrate the potential of enhanced ride and handling performance. The results illustrate the model-decoupling property of the hydraulically interconnected system. The anti-roll and anti-pitch performance could be tuned independently by the interconnected systems. With the improved anti-roll and anti-pitch characteristics, the bounce stiffness and ride damping can be optimised for better ride comfort and tyre grip.