H8 Control Performance of a Full-Vehicle Suspension Featuring Magnetorheological Dampers

Summary This paper presents an investigation of the feedback control performance of a full-vehicle suspension system featuring magnetorheological (MR) dampers. A cylindrical MR damper is designed and manufactured by incorporating a Bingham model of aMR fluid which is commercially available. After evaluating the field-dependent damping characteristics of the MR damper, a full-vehicle suspension system installed with 4 independent MR dampers is constructed and its governing equations of motion which include vertical, pitch and roll motions are derived. A H 8 controller which has inherent robustness against system uncertainties is formulated by treating the sprung mass of the vehicle as uncertain parameter. This is accomplished by adopting the loop shaping design procedure. For the demonstration of a practical feasibility, control performance characteristics for vibration suppression of the proposed MR suspension system are evaluated under various road conditions through the hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HILS) methodology.     

Semi-active H∞ control of high-speed railway vehicle suspension with magnetorheological dampers

In this paper, semi-active H∞ control with magnetorheological (MR) dampers for railway vehicle suspension systems to improve the lateral ride quality is investigated. The proposed semi-active controller is composed of a H∞ controller as the system controller and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) inverse MR damper model as the damper controller. First, a 17-degree-of-freedom model for a full-scale railway vehicle is developed and the random track irregularities are modelled. Then a modified Bouc–Wen model is built to characterise the forward dynamic characteristics of the MR damper and an inverse MR damper model is built with the ANFIS technique. Furthermore, a H∞ controller composed of a yaw motion controller and a rolling pendulum motion (lateral motion+roll motion) controller is established. By integrating the H∞ controller with the ANFIS inverse model, a semi-active H∞ controller for the railway vehicle is finally proposed. Simulation results indicate that the proposed semi-active suspension system possesses better attenuation ability for the vibrations of the car body than the passive suspension system.     

磁流变阻尼器动力学特性研究

从材料流变特性和动力学、机械学、电磁学的角度出发，建立了磁流阻尼器的动力学模型。应用该模型可由磁流变阻尼器设计参数得到其动力学特性，如力—速度曲线，并与试验结果相吻合，为磁流阻尼器设计和性能预测提供了参考。     

Load-leveling suspension system with a magnetorheological damper

In this paper, a load-leveling suspension system with a magnetorheological (MR) damper is investigated. In this suspension system, the MR damper is connected to a spring to form a load-leveling suspension system. The system effective stiffness and damping can be adjusted by controlling the MR damper. The characteristics of a load-leveling suspension system are studied first. When the linear damper is replaced with an MR damper, the averaging method is adopted to obtain the steady-state response of the nonlinear system. A comparison demonstrates that the results of the averaging method are in good agreement with those obtained by numerical simulations. The analytical results are then verified experimentally. The load-leveling suspension system studied here is able to adjust both suspension stiffness and damping and, hence, it may provide more effective vibration control in a wider frequency range, when the damper is controlled.     

Load-leveling suspension system with a magnetorheological damper

In this paper, a load-leveling suspension system with a magnetorheological (MR) damper is investigated. In this suspension system, the MR damper is connected to a spring to form a load-leveling suspension system. The system effective stiffness and damping can be adjusted by controlling the MR damper. The characteristics of a load-leveling suspension system are studied first. When the linear damper is replaced with an MR damper, the averaging method is adopted to obtain the steady-state response of the nonlinear system. A comparison demonstrates that the results of the averaging method are in good agreement with those obtained by numerical simulations. The analytical results are then verified experimentally. The load-leveling suspension system studied here is able to adjust both suspension stiffness and damping and, hence, it may provide more effective vibration control in a wider frequency range, when the damper is controlled.     

Semi-active control of tracked vehicle suspension incorporating magnetorheological dampers

In past years, the application of magnetorheological (MR) and electrorheological dampers in vehicle suspension has been widely studied, mainly for the purpose of vibration control. This paper presents theoretical study to identify an appropriate semi-active control method for MR-tracked vehicle suspension. Three representative control algorithms are simulated including the skyhook, hybrid and fuzzy-hybrid controllers. A seven degrees-of-freedom tracked vehicle suspension model incorporating MR dampers has been adopted for comparison between the performance of the three controllers. The model differential equations are derived based on Newton's second law of motion and the proposed control methods are developed. The performance of each control method under bump and sinusoidal road profiles for different vehicle speeds is simulated and compared with the performance of the conventional suspension system in time and frequency domains. The results show that the performance of tracked vehicle suspension with MR dampers is substantially improved. Moreover, the fuzzy-hybrid controller offers an excellent integrated performance in reducing the body accelerations as well as wheel bounce responses compared with the classical skyhook and hybrid controllers.     

Inverse neuro-fuzzy MR damper model and its application in vibration control of vehicle suspension system

In this paper, a magneto-rheological (MR) damper-based semi-active controller for vehicle suspension is developed. This system consists of a linear quadratic Gauss (LQG) controller as the system controller and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) inverse model as the damper controller. First, a modified Bouc–Wen model is proposed to characterise the forward dynamic characteristics of the MR damper based on the experimental data. Then, an inverse MR damper model is built using ANFIS technique to determine the input current so as to gain the desired damping force. Finally, a quarter-car suspension model together with the MR damper is set up, and a semi-active controller composed of the LQG controller and the ANFIS inverse model is designed. Simulation results demonstrate that the desired force can be accurately tracked using the ANFIS technique and the semi-active controller can achieve competitive performance as that of active suspension.     

汽车磁流变半主动悬架的控制研究

为了改善汽车的乘坐舒适性和行驶安全性,提出了一种汽车磁流变半主动悬架的控制策略。首先,设计了磁流变减振器的工作模式,通过试验获得了其速度特性和力学特性,建立了磁流变减振器的数学模型;其次,建立了带磁流变减振器的二自由度车辆简化模型及其参数表;最后,基于双环控制理论,设计了一种控制系统,其外环产生理想的结构阻尼力,内环调节电流驱动器的电流,以使磁流变减振器实时地产生控制阻尼力。仿真结果表明:以磁流变减振器为基础,通过半主动控制技术,悬架系统的振动动态性能得到了有效的控制。     

A semi-active control suspension system for railway vehicles with magnetorheological fluid dampers

The high-speed train has achieved great progress in the last decades. It is one of the most important modes of transportation between cities. With the rapid development of the high-speed train, its safety issue is paid much more attention than ever before. To improve the stability of the vehicle with high speed, extra dampers (i.e. anti-hunting damper) are used in the traditional bogies with passive suspension system. However, the curving performance of the vehicle is undermined due to the extra lateral force generated by the dampers. The active suspension systems proposed in the last decades attempt to solve the vehicle steering issue. However, the active suspension systems need extra actuators driven by electrical power or hydraulic power. There are some implementation and even safety issues which are not easy to be overcome. In this paper, an innovative semi-active controlled lateral suspension system for railway vehicles is proposed. Four magnetorheological fluid dampers are fixed to the primary suspension system of each bogie. They are controlled by online controllers for enhancing the running stability on the straight track line on the one hand and further improving the curving performance by controlling the damper force on the other hand. Two control strategies are proposed in the light of the pure rolling concept. The effectiveness of the proposed strategies is demonstrated by SIMPACK and Matlab co-simulation for a full railway vehicle with two conventional bogies.     

Semi-active suspension systems for railway vehicles using magnetorheological dampers. Part I: system integration and modelling

In this paper, it is aimed to investigate semi-active suspension systems using magnetorheological (MR) fluid dampers for improving the ride quality of railway vehicles. A 17-degree-of-freedom (DOF) model of a full-scale railway vehicle integrated with the semi-active controlled MR fluid dampers in its secondary suspension system is proposed to cope with the lateral, yaw, and roll motions of the car body, trucks, and wheelsets. The governing equations combining the dynamics of the railway vehicle integrated with MR dampers in the suspension system and the dynamics of the rail track irregularities are developed and a linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control law using the acceleration feedback is adopted, in which the state variables are estimated from the measurable accelerations with a Kalman estimator. In order to evaluate the performances of the semi-active suspension systems based on MR dampers for railway vehicles, the random and periodical track irregularities are modelled with a uniform state-space formulation according to the testing data and incorporated into the governing equation of the railway vehicle integrated with the semi-active suspension system. Utilising the governing equations and the semi-active controller developed in this paper, the simulation and analysis are presented in Part II of this paper.     

Generalized magnetorheological (MR) damper model and its application in semi-active control of vehicle suspension system

In this paper, analytical characterization of the magneto-rheological (MR) damper is done using a new modified algebraic model. Algebraic model is also more preferable because of its low computational expenses compared to differential Bouc-Wen’s model which is highly computationally demanding. This model along with the obtained model parameters is used as a semi-active suspension device in a quarter car model and the stationary response of the vehicle traversing on a rough road is obtained. The control part consists of two nested controllers. One of them is the system controller which generates the desired damping force and the other is the damper controller which adjusts the voltage level to MR damper so as to track the desired damping force. For the system controller a model reference skyhook Sliding Mode Controller (SMC) is used and for the damper controller a continuous state algorithm is built to determine the input voltage so as to gain the desired damping force. The analytical model is subsequently used in the quarter car vehicle model and the vehicular responses are studied. A simulation study is performed to prove the effectiveness and robustness of the semi-active control approach. Results show that the semi-active controller can achieve compatible performance as that of active suspension controller except for a little deterioration.     

斜拉桥拉索磁流变阻尼器减振技术研究

采用数值仿真和现场试验对磁流变阻尼器的减振性能进行了研究。数值仿真计算评估了磁流变阻尼器安装高度、外部激励、阻尼器输入电压等参数对拉索系统模态阻尼比的影响 ,结果表明磁流变阻尼器具有良好的阻尼可调特性 ,调节阻尼器的输入电压可以获得拉索系统的最佳模态阻尼比 ;现场试验表明 ,安装该阻尼器后 ,拉索系统的模态阻尼比提高 3～ 6倍 ,并存在一优化电压 ,在该电压下模态阻尼比达到最大 ;实际风雨振时的现场观测结果显示 ,磁流变阻尼器具有很好的减振效果 ;拉索磁流变阻尼器减振技术已在岳阳洞庭湖大桥全桥实施 ,解决了该桥的风雨振问题     

Vehicle Dynamic Analysis and Evaluation of Continuously Controlled Semi-Active Suspensions Using Hardware-in-the-loop Simulation

A semi-active suspension system with continuously variable damper is greatly expected to be used mainly in the future as a high-performance suspension system due to its cost-effectiveness, light weight, and low energy consumption. In this paper, to develop a suitable control logic for the semi-active suspension system, the hardware-in-the-loop simulation is performed for the experimental continuously variable damper combined with a quarter-car model, and the simulation results are compared for passive, on/off controlled, and continuously controlled dampers in the aspects of ride comfort and driving safety, assuming each damper to be installed on the vehicle.     

汽车磁流变半主动悬架自适应模糊控制研究

针对汽车磁流变半主动悬架存在非线性及不确定性等因素而难以控制的问题,提出采用自适应模糊控制策略并进行了研究。在分析磁流变减振器输入输出特性的基础上,针对1/4车辆悬架模型设计了自适应模糊控制器并进行了仿真分析。以某微型车为试验用车,搭建了平顺性道路试验系统,进行了不同车速、不同控制策略(自适应模糊控制和天棚控制)下的随机路面试验,试验结果与仿真结果相吻合,说明将自适应模糊策略应用于半主动控制是可行的,能够抑制车身的垂直振动,提高乘坐的舒适性,且控制效果要优于天棚控制。     

斜拉桥拉索的MR半主动控制研究

根据LQR最优控制理论,结合面向速度剪切(Clipped Optimal)控制算法及修正的磁流变(MR)阻尼器Bouc Wen模型,提出了LQR Clipped半主动控制算法,应用拉索振动的差分离散模型,对斜拉索的面内振动进行了被动、主动及半主动控制研究,分析了MR阻尼器对斜拉索的振动控制效果。研究结果表明:MR阻尼器被动控制能够提供的模态阻尼比可以达到最优油阻尼器控制的值,但MR被动控制存在一个最优输入电压,最优电压值与需控制的第几阶模态有关;与油阻尼器被动控制相比,MR半主动控制可以有效地提高模态阻尼比,尤其在阻尼器位置距索端很近时仍有较好的控制效果。     

A new method of identification of equivalent suspension and damping rates of full-vehicle model

ABSTRACT

The equivalent spring and damper are often used to simplify the dynamic analysis of a nonlinear full-vehicle model. Clearly, those rates are strongly influenced by the kinematics of a suspension mechanism. This paper presents a new approach to the identification of the equivalent suspension and damping rates. The suspension is considered as a 1-degree-of-freedom (DOF) spatial parallel mechanism. The instantaneous kinestatic relations of the 1-DOF spatial parallel mechanism can be described using the theory of screws. The process of identification of the rates involves three steps: first, the joint positions of the suspension are found from the displacement analysis of the suspension mechanism. Second, the motion of each wheel of four suspension mechanisms is represented by the corresponding instantaneous screw at any instant. Third, the equivalent suspension and damping rates are determined from the kinestatic relations of the instantaneous screw. These rates are used for the dynamic analysis of the nonlinear full-vehicle model consisting of two pairs of the front (double-wishbone) and rear (multi-link) suspensions. Two dynamic behaviours of a car are analysed and compared with the simulation utilising the Adams/View software.     

A novel neuro-fuzzy controller to enhance the performance of vehicle semi-active suspension systems

This paper proposes a neuro-fuzzy (NF) strategy to implement semi-active suspension in passenger vehicles. The proposed method is composed of two parts: a NF controller (NFC), to establish an efficient controller strategy to improve ride comfort and road handling (RCH), and an inverse mapping to estimate the semi-active suspension current. To effectively estimate the current needed to control the semi-active damper, an inverse mapping based on neural network, modified back-propagation (MBP) is presented. The inverse mapping is incorporated into the FC to enhance RCH. Given the relative velocity between the mass and the base and also the absolute acceleration of the mass, the FC computes the optimum damping coefficient. The fuzzy logic rules are extracted based on expert knowledge encapsulated in skyhook and groundhook. A quarter-car model was adopted for the purpose of simulating and experimenting with the proposed NFC. To verify the performance of the FC, two sets of results are reported. First, an experimental analysis was performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the FC in comparison with the benchmark skyhook and Rakheja–Sankar controllers. Furthermore, a random input was considered to examine the robustness of the NFC in comparison with the other adopted controllers. It was shown that the developed NFC control enhances the performance of the quarter-car system significantly, in terms of both ride comfort and handling characteristics. Second, four FCs with the same control strategies were implemented on a full-vehicle model to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy in reducing the propensity to rollover. It was concluded that the developed FC enhances the RHC and also has the potential to increase the stability of vehicles.     

Hardware-in-the-loop simulation experiment for semi-active vibration control of lateral vibrations of railway vehicle by magneto-rheological fluid damper

The active lateral suspension (ALS) of a train consists of either active or semi-active technologies. However, such an active system on a real railway vehicle is not easy to test because of cost and time. In this study, a hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HILS) system is developed to test the ALS. To this end, the dynamic model of a railway vehicle is equipped with the actuator, two bogies and four-wheel sets, and the ALS is used. The proposed HILS system consists of an alternating current servo motor connected to a ball-screw mechanism and a digital control system. The digital control system implements the dynamic model and the control algorithm. The design and manufacture of the HILS system are explained in detail. Both the passive damper and the magneto-rheological (MR) fluid damper are tested using the HILS system, where the sky-hook control algorithm was applied for the MR fluid damper. Experimental results show that the proposed HILS system can be effectively used for the performance estimation of the ALS.     

基于半主动自适应悬架系统的整车道路友好性研究

为了提高车辆的道路友好性与平顺性,设计了以磁流变减振器为控制对象的整车自适应模糊控制半主动悬架系统。在试验测试和理论分析的基础上,建立了基于磁流变减振器的整车半主动悬架模型及其状态方程,并用该模型对自适应模糊控制方法进行了研究。模型的输入采用B级和C级路面谱;道路友好性评价指标采用动载荷系数和动载荷应力因子;使用MATLAB/Simulink建立基于2个自适应模块的模糊控制器控制系统,模糊控制器的输入均采用车身与车桥的相对速度和相对加速度。仿真结果表明:与被动悬架相比,在B级和C级路面、不同速度下,半主动自适应悬架动载荷系数均降低30%左右,动载荷应力因子均降低40%以上,同时也提高了车辆的运行平顺性和稳定性。     

Fault detection of vehicle suspension system using wavelet analysis

This paper presents a method based on continuous wavelet transform to detect the faults of vehicle suspension systems. The Morlet wavelet functions are employed to approach the natural frequencies of the system and the frequency components of the signal with relative maximum energy. To evaluate our method, we use a full vehicle dynamic model which has been simulated in ADAMS/CAR and validated by laboratory test results. The suspension faults have been considered due to the damage of shock absorbers (dampers) and upper damper bushings (UDBs) and assumed as the decrease in damping force and loose joints, respectively. In this paper, the incapability of the spectral analysis by using fast Fourier transform in analysis of the signals is revealed through applying the inputs that include transient characteristics and then wavelet transform employed to achieve more proper results. A swept frequency is applied as an input to the wheels that simulates the road irregularities. After detection of faulty sections of the system using signal energy distribution, the defects of damper and UDBs are distinguished from each other through observing the changes of natural frequencies and corresponding energy amplitudes.