The Performance of Passive Cab Suspension Systems in Tractor-Semitrailer Vehicles

Abstract

In this paper, the planar vibrational response of an articulated vehicle with a suspended cab is considered. The statistical performance of innovative linear passive suspensions in response to a randomly profiled road is evaluated. Design guidelines based upon the analytical model derived are provided. A procedure for optimizing driver comfort/cab deflection trade-off is presented. The trade-off is made explicit in the form of a performance index comprised of weighted mean squared driver acceleration and mean squared suspension dynamic deflection. In addition, the potential improvements offered by nonlinear passive suspensions are investigated.