Magnetorheological semi-active shock mitigation control: Part II: System extension and application analysis

Abstract

In Part I of this work, the dynamic model of drop-induced shock mitigation based on magnetorheological (MR) energy absorber (EA) was deduced. The shock mitigation control effectiveness of constant force control method and optimal Bi number control method were compared based on Bingham model and resistor-capacitor (RC) operator-based hysteresis model. In this part, to further explore the possibility of the application of MREA in the shock mitigation control system, a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) shock mitigation control system is built with MREA connected in parallel with a coil spring, which is then connected in series with a vehicle tire to build a one-fourth vehicle suspension shock mitigation control system. Next, the constant force control method and optimal Bi number control method are extended to the SDOF shock mitigation control system. Based on the concept of the optimal Bi number, a two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) optimal Bi number control method applied to the one-fourth vehicle suspension system is proposed by decoupling and recoupling the damping and stiffness of the vehicle suspension system. Using the control methods conducted in Part I, the motion state of the drop-induced shock mitigation process is simulated and analyzed. The control performances of the control methods in the SDOF shock mitigation control system are compared. Besides, the average velocity change rate (AVCR) and velocity-acceleration conversion ratio (V-ACR) are used to evaluate the effectiveness and stability of the control methods. Finally, the conclusion that the 2DOF optimal Bi number control method can effectively realize the shock mitigation control of a one-fourth vehicle suspension system is verified.