Nonlinearity in the vertical transmissibility of seating: the role of the human body apparent mass and seat dynamic stiffness

The efficiency of a seat in reducing vibration depends on the characteristics of the vibration, the dynamic characteristics of the seat, and the dynamic characteristics of the person sitting on the seat. However, it is not known whether seat cushions influence the dynamic response of the human body, whether the human body influences the dynamic response of seat cushions, or the relative importance of human body nonlinearity and seat nonlinearity in causing nonlinearity in measures of seat transmissibility. This study was designed to investigate the nonlinearity of the coupled seat and human body systems and to compare the apparent mass of the human body supported on rigid and foam seats. A frequency domain model was used to identify the dynamic parameters of seat foams and investigate their dependence on the subject-sitting weight and hip breadth. With 15 subjects, the force and acceleration at the seat base and acceleration at the subject interface were measured during random vertical vibration excitation (0.25–25 Hz) at each of five vibration magnitudes, (0.25–1.6 ms^?2 r.m.s.) with four seating conditions (rigid flat seat and three foam cushions). The measurements are presented in terms of the subject's apparent mass on the rigid and foam seat surfaces, and the transmissibility and dynamic stiffness of each of the foam cushions. Both the human body and the foams showed nonlinear softening behaviour, which resulted in nonlinear cushion transmissibility. The apparent masses of subjects sitting on the rigid seat and on foam cushions were similar, but with an apparent increase in damping when sitting on the foams. The foam dynamic stiffness showed complex correlations with characteristics of the human body, which differed between foams. The nonlinearities in cushion transmissibilities, expressed in terms of changes in resonance frequencies and moduli, were more dependent on human body nonlinearity than on cushion nonlinearity.     

A study of locomotive driver's seat vertical suspension system with adjustable damper

This paper shows that laboratory measurements can be used for the identification of structure and parameters of commercial seat vertical suspension system model. A commonly used single-degree-of-freedom suspension model does not suffice. The system model presented is based on Zener's structure and clearly describes the dynamic properties of a vertical seat suspension with an adjustable damper. The model introduced, augmented with seat cushion dynamic model, predicts the seat vertical vibration mitigation properties under field conditions with a reasonable accuracy. Optimisation of the adjustable damper setting is performed using a two-objective function optimisation technique. This enables us to optimise not only the exerted vertical vibration acceleration but also the seat relative vertical displacement (stroke). Optimisation was facilitated for the particular suspended seat without the requirement of further field measurements. In addition, a two-parameter optimisation was performed showing possible further improvement in both objectives at the manufacturer's discretion. This study could be representative of driver's seats equipped with vertical seat suspension system using an air-spring and an adjustable damper.     

正面碰撞时轿车后排乘员的保护

为提高轿车后排乘员在发生正面碰撞时的安全性,文章利用碰撞仿真分析软件MADYMO,建立包括某轿车车体、安全带和假人的乘员约束系统正面碰撞模型,并与碰撞试验结果进行对比,验证了模型有效性。利用该模型对安全带形式和座垫角度对乘员的HIC、胸部3ms加速度和左右大腿力等损伤值的影响进行了比较,表明使用3点式安全带同时匹配座垫倾角25°的方法,能使头部损伤下降59%,胸部伤害下降20%,腿部损伤下降70%,有效提高后排乘员的安全性。     

Seatbelt and seatback control for occupant protection in frontal automotive collisions

This paper investigates the potential benefits of an imminent collision prediction system for improving occupant protection in a frontal automotive crash. Knowledge of an impending unavoidable crash is assumed to be known 100 ms before the crash occurs. A three dof human occupant model is developed using a Lagrangian approach to represent occupant translation with respect to seat, torso rotation and neck rotation. The performance of traditional elastic seat belts is compared with that of an analytically calculated seat belt law in which the force values are calculated in real-time so as to just prevent collision with car interior. Simulations verify that the analytical seat belt force calculation results in less force on occupant for the same level of safety. Furthermore, results show that knowledge of a future collision can be used to pre-tension seat belts but can provide no additional benefits, if seat belts are the only means for active occupant protection. However, if seat tilt-back can be deployed using an on–off mechanism, such predictive knowledge of a future collision can provide significantly improved occupant protection in terms of preventing occupant collision with car interior.     

Parameters optimisation of a vehicle suspension system using a particle swarm optimisation algorithm

The purpose of this paper is to determine the lumped suspension parameters that minimise a multi-objective function in a vehicle model under different standard PSD road profiles. This optimisation tries to meet the rms vertical acceleration weighted limits for human sensitivity curves from ISO 2631 [ISO-2631: guide for evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration. Europe; 1997] at the driver's seat, the road holding capability and the suspension working space. The vehicle is modelled in the frequency domain using eight degrees of freedom under a random road profile. The particle swarm optimisation and sequential quadratic programming algorithms are used to obtain the suspension optimal parameters in different road profile and vehicle velocity conditions. A sensitivity analysis is performed using the obtained results and, in Class G road profile, the seat damping has the major influence on the minimisation of the multi-objective function. The influence of vehicle parameters in vibration attenuation is analysed and it is concluded that the front suspension stiffness should be less stiff than the rear ones when the driver's seat relative position is located forward the centre of gravity of the car body. Graphs and tables for the behaviour of suspension parameters related to road classes, used algorithms and velocities are presented to illustrate the results. In Class A road profile it was possible to find optimal parameters within the boundaries of the design variables that resulted in acceptable values for the comfort, road holding and suspension working space.     

Influence of long-wavelength track irregularities on the motion of a high-speed train

Vertical track irregularities over viaducts in high-speed rail systems could be possibly caused by concrete creep if pre-stressed concrete bridges are used. For bridge spans that are almost uniformly distributed, track irregularity exhibits a near-regular wave profile that excites car bodies as a high-speed train moves over the bridge system. A long-wavelength irregularity induces low-frequency excitation that may be close to the natural frequencies of the train suspension system, thereby causing significant vibration of the car body. This paper investigates the relationship between the levels of car vibration, bridge vibration, track irregularity, and the train speed. First, this study investigates the vibration levels of a high-speed train and bridge system using 3D finite-element (FE) transient dynamic analysis, before and after adjustment of vertical track irregularities by means of installing shimming plates under rail pads. The analysis models are validated by in situ measurements and on-board measurement. Parametric studies of car body vibration and bridge vibration under three different levels of track irregularity at five train speeds and over two bridge span lengths are conducted using the FE model. Finally, a discontinuous shimming pattern is proposed to avoid vehicle suspension resonance.     

Vertical random vibration analysis of vehicle–track coupled system using Green's function method

A vertical vehicle–track coupled dynamic model, consisting of a high-speed train on a continuously supported rail, is established in the frequency-domain. The solution is obtained efficiently by use of the Green's function method, which can determine the vibration response over a wide range of frequency without any limitations due to modal truncation. Moreover, real track irregularity spectra can be used conveniently as input. The effect of the flexibility of both track and car body on the entire vehicle–track coupled dynamic response is investigated. A multi-body model of a vehicle with either rigid or flexible car body is defined running on three kinds of track: a rigid rail, a track stiffness model and a Timoshenko beam model. The results show that neglecting the track flexibility leads to an overestimation of both the contact force and the whole vehicle vibration response. The car body flexibility affects the ride quality of the vehicle and the coupling through the track and can be significant in certain frequency ranges. Finally, the effect of railpad and ballast stiffness on the vehicle–track coupled vibration is analysed, indicating that the stiffness of the railpad has an influence on the system in a higher frequency range than the ballast.     

Development of a semi-empirical friction model in automotive driveshaft joints

High speed and sport utility vehicles with large joint articulation angle demand lower friction in automotive driveshaft joints to meet noise and vibration comfort levels. Thus a more thorough understanding of internal friction characteristics and mechanisms is required. In this paper, a friction model in automotive driveshaft joints was developed through the use of test data from an instrumented Constant Velocity (CV) joint friction apparatus with actual driveshaft assemblies. Experiments were conducted under different realistic operating conditions of oscillatory speeds, CV joint articulation angles, lubrication, and torque. The experimental data was used to develop a physics-based semi-empirical CV joint internal friction model as a function of different CV joint operating parameters. It was found that the proposed friction model captures the experimental results well. Also the friction model estimates the generated axial force (GAF) in tripod CV joints well, which is the main source of force that causes vehicle vibration problems.     

非连接式桩筏基础水平特性试验

为了给非连接式桩筏的设计与施工提供参考，针对大型桥梁工程采用的减隔震基础形式--非连接式桩筏，考虑竖向荷载、垫层厚度等因素的影响，进行了非连接式桩筏水平承载性能的室内模型试验研究。采用粒子图像测速法跟踪了土体水平位移路径，利用数字图像关联技术获得了土体位移场与剪切带，分析了竖向荷载、垫层厚度等因素对筏板水平位移、桩身弯矩和剪力分布的影响规律，提出了非连接式桩筏基础水平承载力的简化模型及计算方法，并用试验数据进行了验证。研究结果表明：竖向荷载可有效限制筏板水平位移，设置垫层可显著减小桩身弯矩及剪力，并且桩身弯矩和剪力随垫层厚度的增加而减小；土体在垫层顶部形成位移集中区，产生局部塑性变形并不断扩大，最后局部塑性变形区贯通形成完整的剪切带；非连接式桩筏基础水平承载力与竖向荷载相关，当竖向荷载较小时，其水平承载力由筏板与垫层界面摩擦力控制，当竖向荷载较大时，其水平承载力取决于垫层的水平承载力，这与图像分析获得的垫层破坏结论一致。因此，对于非连接式桩筏基础的设计及具体工程应用，可以通过调整垫层的厚度来减小桩身弯矩及剪力；所揭示的非连接式桩筏基础水平承载力变化规律可为今后大型桥梁隔震基础的设计与研究提供参考。     

汽车座椅坐垫悬簧的舒适性设计研究

随着人们生活水平的不断提高,舒适性越来越成为广大汽车消费者的关注点,同时提高舒适性也成为各大车辆制造厂家研发设计的重要方向。介绍了汽车座椅坐垫悬簧的相关设计要点,通过坐垫悬簧的结构形式、材料、设计细节等方面来分析坐垫悬簧对人体舒适性的影响,找出基于舒适性的最佳的坐垫悬簧设计方法。     

An analytical formula of driver RMS acceleration response for quarter-car considering cushion effects

In this paper, a 3-DOF (degree-of-freedom) model of quarter-car coupled with driver and cushion is used to derive an analytical formula, which can describe the driver RMS (root-mean-square) acceleration response with cars under random excitation generated by road irregularities. The study starts with the 3-DOF model. Based on the vehicle random vibration theory, using the residue theorem, the analytical formula of driver RMS acceleration considering cushion effects is obtained. Then, the driver RMS acceleration values calculated from the measured data and from the analytical formulae of the 3-DOF and the classical 2-DOF model are compared. The results show the analytical formula for the 3-DOF model provides a more reasonable approximation of the real response of the test car. Having obtained the analytical formula, the effects of vehicle parameters on driver RMS acceleration are studied. Finally, to provide critical foundations for the selection of the cushion damping, the optimal damping ratio of driver-cushion system is deciphered from the analytical formula. To uncover how each dynamic parameter effects the optimal damping ratio, the analysis of influencing factors is performed and some important conclusions are obtained. The derived analytical formula can be also conveniently used either during preliminary design or for other special purposes.     

两辆SUV乘用车侧碰耐撞性最差工况的判定

为了判定运动型多功能乘用车(SUV)受到同款车型以确定速度侧面碰撞时驾驶位附近车体耐撞性最差的工况,参考2018版中国新车评价规程(C-NCAP)中的相关要求,联合HyperWorks和LS-DYNA软件建立了两辆某款福特SUV侧面碰撞的有限元模型,仿真计算了撞击车在50 km/h的速度下以4种角度碰撞静止车辆侧面6个位置时被撞车驾驶位附近车体侧围构件的侵入量数据及其分布情况。结果表明:若两辆此款SUV发生侧碰且碰撞速度一定,则被撞车驾驶位附近车体侧围构件在碰撞角接近120°且碰撞位置处于法规侧碰处向前0~200 mm范围内的工况下所产生的侵入量最大,即被撞SUV驾驶位附近车体的耐撞性在这样的工况下显得最差。     

车内低频振动噪声的虚拟传递路径分析

传递路径分析法是诊断汽车振动噪声问题准确有效的方法。试验传递路径分析耗时耗力且需要实制样车,为在整车开发初期诊断汽车振动噪声问题,对整车虚拟传递路径分析法进行了研究。首先建立了包含底盘的整车声固耦合有限元模型,采用频率响应法预测车内声学振动响应,发现驾驶员右耳声压在38 Hz处以及驾驶员座椅导轨振动在59 Hz处存在较大峰值。在有限元模型基础上建立了整车虚拟传递路径分析模型,该模型合成的声学振动结果与频率响应法结果吻合较好,验证了模型的正确性。利用虚拟传递路径法对两处峰值作诊断分析,根据分析结果对贡献量大的路径进行优化。优化结果表明,38 Hz处驾驶员右耳声压降低2 dB,59 Hz处座椅振动改善效果明显。     

汽车空调压缩机引起的车内噪声试验研究

针对某汽车空调用斜盘式压缩机在怠速工况下运转时引起的车内噪声的问题进行了试验研究，研究分为台架试验和整车试验两部分。通过试验，不仅了解了压缩机单机振动和噪声特性，而且对压缩机振动引起的车内噪声特性，以及影响车内噪声的机理也得到了一些有意义的初步结论。这些结论对于解决压缩机，乃至汽至汽车空调系统的减振降噪问题极具参考价值。     

An insight into linear quarter car model accuracy

The linear quarter car model is the most widely used suspension system model. A number of authors expressed doubts about the accuracy of the linear quarter car model in predicting the movement of a complex nonlinear suspension system. In this investigation, a quarter car rig, designed to mimic the popular MacPherson strut suspension system, is subject to narrowband excitation at a range of frequencies using a motor driven cam. Linear and nonlinear quarter car simulations of the rig are developed. Both isolated and operational testing techniques are used to characterise the individual suspension system components. Simulations carried out using the linear and nonlinear models are compared to measured data from the suspension test rig at selected excitation frequencies. Results show that the linear quarter car model provides a reasonable approximation of unsprung mass acceleration but significantly overpredicts sprung mass acceleration magnitude. The nonlinear simulation, featuring a trilinear shock absorber model and nonlinear tyre, produces results which are significantly more accurate than linear simulation results. The effect of tyre damping on the nonlinear model is also investigated for narrowband excitation. It is found to reduce the magnitude of unsprung mass acceleration peaks and contribute to an overall improvement in simulation accuracy.     

Integration of experiment and hydrostatic fluid-structure finite element analysis into dynamic characteristic prediction of a hydraulically damped rubber mount

Hydraulically damped rubber mount (HDM) can effectively attenuate vibrations transmitted between an automotive powertrain and body/chassis and reduce interior noise in the car compartment. Predicting the dynamic characteristics of a HDM faces challenges due to fluid-structure interactions between the rubber spring and fluid in the chambers, nonlinear material properties of the rubber parts and turbulent flow in the chambers and fluid track linking chambers. In this paper, an experimental analysis and hydrostatic finite element (FE) modeling technique are integrated in a numerical simulation approach to modeling the dynamic characteristics of a HDM with a lumped-parameter HDM model. The dynamic characteristics of a typical HDM with a fixed decoupler are predicted and compared with experimental results, which verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Moreover, a parametric effect analysis is performed to demonstrate parameter influence on dynamic characteristic, which provides a concise design guideline for the parameter adjustments necessary for a HDM to meet the vibration isolation requirements of a powertrain mount system.     

基于有限元分析的某轿车座椅静力学分析

汽车座椅是汽车舒适性的重要保障。文章通过建立座椅的骨架模型,利用ANSYS Workbench(AWB)中的静力学模块,得到了对靠背、坐垫以及头枕的有限元分析。针对座椅靠背连接件(即头枕、背靠和坐垫)仿真结果表明:座椅各部分的结构强度符合要求,座椅的安全性能能够得到保障。     

Skyhook and H8 Control of Semi-active Suspensions: Some Practical Aspects

Summary This paper deals with single-wheel suspension car model. We aim to prove the benefits of controlled semi-active suspensions compared to passive ones. The contribution relies on H 8 control design to improve comfort and road holding of the car under industrial specifications, and on control validation through simulation on an exact nonlinear model of the suspension. Note that we define semi-active suspensions as control systems incorporating a parallel spring and an electronically controlled damper. However, the type of damper used in automotive industry can only dissipate energy. No additional force can be generated using external energy. The control issue is then to change, in an accurate way, the damping (friction) coefficient in real-time. This is what we call semi-active suspension. For this purpose, two control methodologies, H 8 and Skyhook control approaches, are developed, using a linear model of the suspension, and compared in terms of performances using industrial specifications. The performance analysis is done using the control-oriented linear model first, and then using an exact nonlinear model of the suspension incorporating the nonlinear characteristics of the suspension spring and damper.     

Skyhook and H8 Control of Semi-active Suspensions: Some Practical Aspects

Summary This paper deals with single-wheel suspension car model. We aim to prove the benefits of controlled semi-active suspensions compared to passive ones. The contribution relies on H 8 control design to improve comfort and road holding of the car under industrial specifications, and on control validation through simulation on an exact nonlinear model of the suspension. Note that we define semi-active suspensions as control systems incorporating a parallel spring and an electronically controlled damper. However, the type of damper used in automotive industry can only dissipate energy. No additional force can be generated using external energy. The control issue is then to change, in an accurate way, the damping (friction) coefficient in real-time. This is what we call semi-active suspension. For this purpose, two control methodologies, H 8 and Skyhook control approaches, are developed, using a linear model of the suspension, and compared in terms of performances using industrial specifications. The performance analysis is done using the control-oriented linear model first, and then using an exact nonlinear model of the suspension incorporating the nonlinear characteristics of the suspension spring and damper.