Nonlinear dynamic analysis of a quarter vehicle system with external periodic excitation

Abstract

In this paper, a nonlinear dynamic model of a quarter vehicle with nonlinear spring and damping is established. The dynamic characteristics of the vehicle system with external periodic excitation are theoretically investigated by the incremental harmonic balance method and Newmark method, and the accuracy of the incremental harmonic balance method is verified by comparing with the result of Newmark method. The influences of the damping coefficient, excitation amplitude and excitation frequency on the dynamic responses are analyzed. The results show that the vibration behaviors of the vehicle system can be control by adjusting appropriately system parameters with the damping coefficient, excitation amplitude and excitation frequency. The multi-valued properties, spur-harmonic response and hardening type nonlinear behavior are revealed in the presented amplitude-frequency curves. With the changing parameters, the transformation of chaotic motion, quasi-periodic motion and periodic motion is also observed. The conclusions can provide some available evidences for the design and improvement of the vehicle system.