Kineto-dynamic performance analysis of vehicle with an asymmetric suspension damper using a roll-plane model

Abstract

This paper presents the study of influences of damper asymmetry together with the suspension kinematics and tyre lateral compliance on the vehicle performance considering a roll-plane model. A 4-DOF, roll-plane model of the road vehicle employing a double wishbone suspension comprising a strut with linear spring and asymmetric damper is formulated for the analyses. The sprung-mass vertical acceleration, chassis roll angle, dynamic tyre forces and the tyres camber angle variation responses of the model with asymmetric dampers are compared with those of the model with an equivalent linear damper under bump and pothole inputs, and rounded-step lateral excitations. The results suggested that the responses are complex functions of damper asymmetry ratio, defined as the ratio of damping coefficient in rebound to that in compression, vehicle forward speed and type of input. The study further suggests that a very low compression mode damping is undesirable from both ride and handling dynamic perspectives.