A new insight into modelling passive suspension real test rig system with consideration of nonlinear friction forces

Abstract

The vital purpose of a vehicle suspension system is to isolate the car body and hence passengers, from roadway unevenness disturbances. Implementation of passive suspension systems has continuously improved disconnection from disturbances through available deflection constraints to provide maximum isolation. In the majority of relevant reported research studies, a quarter car is modelled as moving vertically straight for both a viscous damper and a stiffness spring. The motivation for this study, reported here, is to extend the modelling to take account of the actual configuration of a test rig system. Accordingly, a new passive suspension system model is presented, which includes nonlinear lubricant friction forces that affect the linear support body bearings. The friction model established relies on dynamic system analysis and the fact of slipping body on lubricant bearings; this model captures most of the friction behaviours that have been observed experimentally. The suspension model is composed of a car body and wheel unit, and only vertical motion (bounce mode) is addressed. In addition, an active actuator is used to generate the system inputs as a road simulator. Therefore, a nonlinear hydraulic actuator, including the dynamic of servovalve and proportional–integral controller model, is established. This study is validated by experimental work, with simulations achieving C++compiler. As a result, a good agreement is obtained between the experimental and simulation results, that is, the passive suspension system with considered nonlinear friction and the nonlinear hydraulic actuator with servovalve equation models are entirely accurate and useful. The suggested proportional–integral controller successfully derives the hydraulic actuator to validate the control scheme. The ride comfort and handling response are close to that expected for the passive suspension system with road disturbances.