Force Control of a Semi-Active Damper

Two strategies are investigated for controlling a semi-active damper to track a prescribed force demand signal: (i) 'open loop' control, using a model of the damping force versus velocity characteristics; and (ii) force feedback (closed loop) control.

The damping characteristics and switching transients of a prototype damper were measured, and used to develop a mathematical model of the dynamics of the damper. The two control strategies were investigated using an idealised (constant velocity) test. Their performance was also simulated and measured under realistic operating conditions using the Hardware-in-the-Loop testing method.

Open loop damper control was generally found to give superior performance to force feedback control, due to its smaller phase lag at high frequencies.