Optimization of Vehicle Suspension Parameters for Ride Comfort Based on RSM

Abstract

Vehicle suspension design requires an investigation to determine the spring and damper settings that assure optimal ride comfort (RC) of vehicle. In the present work response surface methodology (RSM), one of the methods of design of experiment has been successfully implemented for the purpose of fnding optimal setting. Design of experiment sometimes requires accurate representation of the independent variables which are usually diffcult to measure or else unavailable for experimentation. This paper proposes a simulation model to analyze the ride comfort with accurate independent variables as per Box–Behnken design of RSM. A prediction model of response variable, RC is developed using regression analysis which leads to a good agreement with simulated model (R2 = 99.74%). The fitted model can be effectively used to evaluate optimal setting of spring stiffness and damping coeffcient with the help of response optimzation damping coeffcient with the help of response optimization of a high desirability value.