Development of Methodology for Semi Active Suspension System Using MR Damper

Abstract

Current automotive companies require improvement in ride comfort with an alternative to suspension system of spring and damper. Developing a good suspension system is a challenging task to enhance ride comfort and road holding which are conflicting with each other. Those two characteristics compromise each other as human beings require a soft ride(comfortable) as well as hard ride (good handling).As per past literature survey, it is observed that there is a scope of development in active and semi active suspension for safety and driving pleasure of occupant as well as to provide ride comfort and road holding of vehicle. These papers elaborate a methodology for semi active suspension system to achieve optimum value of Ride Comfort.To implement semi active suspension system MR (Magneto Rheological) Damper is used .The current controller is developed to vary current from 0.1A to 1A. Design of Experiment (DOE) is a systematic method to determine the relationship between factors affecting a process and output of that process. In this paper Taguchi Method of DOE is implemented for optimization of ride comfort. Using MINITAB software L8 orthogonal array formulated with the total number of 8 runs. The semi active suspension parameters selected for performance are Sprung mass, spring stiffness and current with two levels of each parameter. A Quarter Car test rig equipped with NI 9234 data acquisition system is incorporated with provision of levels of each parameter. These are performed and the effect of these parameters on ride comfort is investigated. Experimental results are used to determine corresponding values in terms of signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio for each run. S/N ratio with lower is better characteristics is selected. ANOVA is performed and mean of SN ratio for each parameter is plotted to investigate which suspension parameter contributes highly in the performance of Semi Active suspension system.