Vehicle Suspension Research Articles

Structural Analysis of an Off-Road Vehicle Suspension System Using CATIA and ANSYS

This project delves into the structural analysis of an off-road vehicle suspension system, employing cutting-edge software tools such as CATIA and ANSYS. Off-road vehicles necessitate robust suspension systems capable of withstanding harsh terrain conditions while ensuring vehicle stability, manoeuvrability, and passenger comfort. The study focuses on evaluating the structural integrity, performance, and behaviour of the suspension system under diverse load conditions and terrain scenarios. This project focuses on conducting a comprehensive structural analysis of an off-road vehicle suspension system using advanced engineering software tools, specifically CATIA and ANSYS. CATIA is a powerful computer-aided design (CAD) software known for its capabilities in creating detailed 3D models, while ANSYS is a leading finite element analysis (FEA) software used for simulating structural behaviour and analyzing mechanical systems. Keywords: suspension system, CATIA v5, ANSYS, iterations, FEA.

Fuzzy sliding mode control of automotive semi-active suspension based on optimization convergence law

Vehicle suspension smoothness and stability are important indicators for evaluating vehicles. This paper firstly establishes a 1/4 automobile semi-active suspension model, which is used as a reference model for comparison by optimizing the canopy model, and secondly designs the sliding mode controller, including the tracking model error design and the control system design, and then incorporates the optimized saturation function convergence law to control the convergence speed, and then combines it with the fuzzy control to improve the accuracy and robustness of the control system. The optimized semi-active suspension control system will enhance the vehicle’s vibration, smoothness, and stability. The final simulation test results show that the optimized sliding mode control suspension body vertical acceleration is reduced by 26.9%, suspension dynamic deflection by 36.7%, and tire dynamic load dynamic load is reduced by 28.4%.

Ride comfort and energy harvesting of inflatable hydraulic-electric regenerative suspension system for heavy-duty vehicles

Ride comfort and energy harvesting of inflatable hydraulic-electric regenerative suspension system for heavy-duty vehicles

Determining the parameters of the functioning for a nonlinear ballistic system in a real external environment

Determining the parameters of the functioning for a nonlinear ballistic system in a real external environment

Finite element analysis of a FeC, Cr-V and Al 7075-T6 leaf springs for light vehicle suspension system

This study has become very necessary because of the current condition of the roads in our country. The study is conducted to come out with an alternative best, cheapest, and available material for the design of leaf springs to prevent or reduce vehicle breakdown due to the breaking of the leaf spring on roads. Weight reduction is one of the main focuses of automobile manufacturers in this modern era. The objective of this study is to model and analyze a leaf spring for a light vehicle suspension system with Plain Carbon Steel (FeC), Chromium Vanadium steel (Cr-V), and Aluminum 7075-T6 as the implementing material using Finite Element Method (FEM). Aluminum 7075-T6 is very strong, and durable and will help in weight reduction since the axle leaf spring arrangement also adds weight to the vehicle. The study showed that, when the applied load of 3359.94 N was induced on the aluminum 7075-T6 leaf spring, the result was superior compared to the other materials with the same loading condition. The aluminum 7075-T6 leaf spring was observed to withstand deformation, strain, and stress better due to its superior properties. The study concluded that Aluminum 7075-T6 material should be adopted for manufacturing leaf springs and similar automobile components since it is light, strong, and can withstand greater forces.

Effects of Mechanical and Electrical Topologies on Piezoelectric Stacked Energy Harvesting in Vehicle Suspensions

The choice of mechanical and electrical topologies can affect piezoelectric energy harvesting efficiency, but the problem of achieving high-efficiency energy conversion in energy harvesters stacked as cantilevers has not been perfectly solved. This study focuses on the topology of piezoelectric elements in a stacked vehicle suspension vibration energy harvesting device. Through theoretical analysis, the stress expressions of the excited and driven elements are derived. The stress of the piezoelectric elements is affected by the positions of the connection and excitation points. A stress model was established for a four-piece piezoelectric element connected by a thin light rod in ANASYS. The simulation results show that the average stress in the piezoelectric bending element model is maximum when the excitation and connection points are located at both ends of the free end. Compared with the middle position of the free end of the piezoelectric element, the average stress of the model is increased by 92.904%. Considering the difference in voltage generated by piezoelectric elements, four kinds of electrical topology are designed and analyzed experimentally. When the driven elements are connected in parallel and then connected in series with the excited element, the output power varied the least with the change of load resistance. The system produces a high power and offers a wide selection of load resistors. When the load is 26 kΩ, a single set of four piezoelectric elements produces 86.407 mW of output power.

Fractional-Order PIλDμ Control to Enhance the Driving Smoothness of Active Vehicle Suspension in Electric Vehicles

The suspension system is a crucial part of an electric vehicle, which directly affects its handling performance, driving comfort, and driving safety. The dynamics of the 8-DoF full-vehicle suspension with seat active control are established based on rigid-body dynamics, and the time-domain stochastic excitation model of four tires is constructed by the filtered white noise method. The suspension dynamics model and road surface model are constructed on the Matlab/Simulink simulation software platform, and the simulation study of the dynamic characteristics of active suspension based on the fractional-order PIλDμ control strategy is carried out. The three performance indicators of acceleration, suspension dynamic deflection, and tire dynamic displacement are selected to construct the fitness function of the genetic algorithm, and the structural parameters of the fractional-order PIλDμ controller are optimized using the genetic algorithm. The control effect of the optimized fractional-order PIλDμ controller based on the genetic algorithm is analyzed by comparing the integer-order PID control suspension and passive suspension. The simulation results show that for optimized fractional-order PID control suspension, compared with passive suspension, the average optimization of the root mean square (RMS) of acceleration under random road conditions reaches over 25%, the average optimization of suspension dynamic deflection exceeds 30%, and the average optimization of tire dynamic displacement is 5%. However, compared to the integer-order PID control suspension, the average optimization of the root mean square (RMS) of acceleration under random road conditions decreased by 5%, the average optimization of suspension dynamic deflection increased by 3%, and the average optimization of tire dynamic displacement increased by 2%.

A New Rotary Magnetorheological Damper for a Semi-Active Suspension System of Low-Floor Vehicles

A New Rotary Magnetorheological Damper for a Semi-Active Suspension System of Low-Floor Vehicles

The Performance Enhancement of a Vehicle Suspension System Employing an Electromagnetic Inerter

As a newly conceived vibration isolation element, an inerter can be implemented in different forms, and it is easily introduced in different vibration isolation scenarios. This paper focuses on a novel inerter device called an electromagnetic inerter (EMI), which combines a linear generator with a fluid inerter. Firstly, the structure and the working principle of the EMI is stated. Then, the parameter sensitivity of the fluid inerter is analyzed, and two parameters that have great influence on the inertance coefficient are obtained. Subsequently, the influence of the change of the external circuit on the output characteristics of the device is also discussed. This proves that the introduction of external circuits can simplify complex mechanical topologies. Finally, the topological structures of vehicle suspension are changed in the form of an EMI (including external circuit), and the dynamic performance of these structures in the typical vibration isolation system of a vehicle’s suspension is obtained. It is found that an L4 layout should be considered as the best suspension structure. Compared with traditional passive suspension, it not only ensures that its handling stability is not weakened, but also reduces the root mean square value of body acceleration and the peak of suspension work space by 4.56% and 11.62%, respectively.

Assessing patient transport conditions during ambulance transit.

Emergency ambulances play a vital role in medical rescue and patient transportation, but their transit can impact patient health due to vehicle dynamic forces and vibrations. This study evaluates patient transport conditions on a stretcher subjected to vertical vibration excitation from road unevenness. Using an eight-degree-of-freedom numerical model, we analyze the construction parameters of a medical stretcher's support and vehicle suspension. Actual experimental data from an emergency vehicle were utilized to assess the vibration conditions experienced by both the stretcher and the ambulance floor. The model is adjusted based on measurements, specifically targeting the main vibration modes. The investigation involves determining temporal responses for vertical accelerations and characterizing vibration modal parameters under various transportation conditions. Notably, several system natural frequencies fall within the range of human body frequencies, making them susceptible to mechanical excitation, particularly in the human neck, abdomen, and spine. A sensitivity analysis underscores the influence of medical stretcher support structure parameters on patient comfort. Increasing support stiffness, which alters the stretcher's natural frequency, and damping coefficient reduce vibration propagation between the vehicle and the patient. Additionally, the research predicts the model's dynamic behavior on roads with low-quality pavement, indicating vibrational amplitudes that could potentially be discomforting and unhealthy for individuals. The study illustrates a vibration exposure period on a class E road, revealing that transportation longer than 25 min may cause damage to patient health.

Design of Automotive Active Suspension System and Simulation for Intelligent Control Strategy

<p>This article focuses on the main suspension systems of current automobiles and the problems existing in active suspension systems. Firstly, the working principle of electromagnetic active suspension systems is explained, and the system design of active suspension is completed. In order to facilitate analysis, a mathematical model of active suspension is built. Then, under the same road parameters, the model is simulated and verified to verify the improvement of structural performance. Secondly, for the control strategy of vehicle stability, a PID controller is adopted, with vehicle acceleration, suspension travel, and tire dynamic load as the input objectives of the controller. The input parameters are automatically tuned and optimized using a bee colony optimization algorithm, and a mathematical expression for the optimization objective is designed. Finally, the optimal solution of the optimization objective is obtained through simulation. Through the method presented in this article, a better design and control scheme for active suspension systems can be obtained, and the practical results have strong guiding significance.</p> <p> </p>

Experimental study on the double-skyhook controls of semi-active suspension with variable inertance and damping

As a conventional control approach, the skyhook damping control algorithm can respond to changes in road circumstances but not to those in load circumstances. The skyhook inertance control algorithm, a newly developed control approach, may adapt to changes in load circumstances rather than in road circumstances. The recent introduction of double-skyhook control algorithms has allowed vehicle suspension systems to accomplish both load and road adaptation. This paper presents an experimental investigation contrasting the performance of the double-skyhook configuration to that of the traditional skyhook damper configuration and the skyhook inerter configuration. By integrating the double-skyhook control strategy with semi-active devices with variable inertance and damping, the paper proposes two strategies for coordinating skyhook inertance and skyhook damping control. A controller using the double-skyhook control strategy is designed to employ the Development to Production rapid control prototyping platform. The controller mode is adjusted using MotoTune software to implement control methods. Three tests were conducted under various road conditions, load conditions, and impact conditions for semi-active suspension. Test results indicate that the double-skyhook configuration considerably enhances driving comfort compared to the single-skyhook configuration. Moreover, the greater the deterioration of road conditions and the decrease in load, the more pronounced the enhancement.

Design of automobile vehicle suspension with combined damping

A new approach to the design of automobile vehicle suspensions is presented by simultaneous use of several damping devices of different types that make up a combined damping system (CDS). A rational combination of the components of the CDS and optimization of their parameters ensure an increase in the smooth running of the vehicle. Calculation and analysis of the damping properties of pneumatic suspension with different combined damping systems made it possible to determine the most effective systems. Keywords:automobile vehicle, pneumatic suspension, combined damping system, dynamic damper, inertial-friction shock absorber, air damper, hydraulic shock absorber nvv_60@mail.ru

Comparison of Surface Hardening Processes Applied to AISI 5140 Steel withSide Load Test

AISI 5140 Tempered steel is generally preferred in the joints of vehicles. This steel is a material with high toughness. Its usage areas are quite wide. The purpose of the surface hardening process is to increase the wear resistance of surfaces exposed to wear, as well as to increase the fatigue life of the part and increase corrosion resistance. Since the inner parts of the parts are not affected by surface hardening, the resistance to impacts increases and therefore the formation of cracks on the surface is delayed. Surface hardening processes delay the formation of cracks on the surface and extend fatigue life. In this study, a comparison was made between a part with induction surface hardening, which is one of the methods in which the chemical composition of the surface is not changed, a part with nitration, which is one of the methods in which the chemical composition is not changed, and a part with standard reclamation heat treatment. Side Load test, a static testing method, was used for this comparison. In the Side Load test, the samples were compressed from the conical region and a vertical load was applied corresponding to the center of the joint. According to the results obtained in the tests, the sample with Induction surface hardening process withstood 64500 N, the sample with Nitriding heat treatment withstood 54500 N and the sample with Standard tempering heat treatment withstood 50200 N. According to the results obtained, the sample with the highest durability rate is the sample whose surface was hardened by induction.

차량 서스펜션의 최적 설계에서 사양관리와 부품 공용화를 위한 CAD 템플릿 및 부품 라이브러리 구축

차량 서스펜션의 최적 설계에서 사양관리와 부품 공용화를 위한 CAD 템플릿 및 부품 라이브러리 구축

Preview-based terrain adaptive active suspension control strategy for heavy-duty trucks

This paper proposes a preview-based active suspension control method for heavy-duty trucks, where the vehicle front wheel terrain preview information is employed to improve the performance of the rear, focusing on enhancing the handling stability and vehicle smoothness. To begin with, the vehicle front wheel preview information is introduced to the half-vehicle model, and a state quantity is employed to calculate the time lag between front and rear for predicting the control input of the rear wheel. Secondly, based on the developed model, an [Formula: see text] controller is designed with the half-vehicle model based on the current stochastic linear optimal control combined with the preview controller, which provides more stable effect than the prior controllers by merging perceived ground information. Furthermore, an established seven-degree-of-freedom vehicle suspension model is utilized for the preview-based controller to govern the kinetic behavior of the heavy-duty truck, allowing for a more thorough analysis of operation smoothness and vehicle stability. At last, the vehicle comparison simulations are carried out, which indicates that the preview-based [Formula: see text] controller designed by inspecting the terrain preview information can straighten out the smoothness and safety of the heavy-duty truck more effectively in contrast with the LQG controller.

Active suspension for all-terrain vehicle with intelligent control using artificial neural networks

The automotive industry focuses on developing advanced protection and stability control systems, particularly for suspension and steering, to enhance vehicle comfort, luxury, and safety. This research presents an intelligent controller for all-terrain vehicle (ATV) suspension systems based on Artificial Neural Network (ANN) technology. The controller leverages ANN capabilities to optimize system performance. MATLAB simulations were conducted to evaluate its effectiveness under various disturbances. A comparative analysis compared the ANN regulator, classic ANFIS regulator, and passive performance in different disturbance scenarios. The simulation results demonstrate exceptional performance of the ANN-based controller in displacement reduction, speed, acceleration, and robustness. The controller effectively mitigates disturbances, enhancing overall suspension system performance. These findings highlight the advantages of employing ANN technology in ATV suspensions. This research contributes to intelligent control systems advancement in the automotive industry, specifically in ATV suspensions. The demonstrated improvements have the potential to enhance passenger comfort, vehicle stability, and safety across terrains. By implementing ANN-based controllers, automotive manufacturers can optimize suspension systems, leading to improved vehicle performance. Several indicators, including RMSE, MRE, and R2, were utilized to test and validate the models. The R2 values for the three quality parameters ranged from 0.989 to 0.999, indicating a high level of consistency in the predictions made by the ANN, a "5-12-1" structure is employed. The results of this study add to the expanding body of knowledge endorsing the efficacy of ANNs in simulating and optimizing quarter-vehicle dynamics.

Mathematical Analysis of the Electromotive Induced Force in a Magnetically Damped Suspension

This study explores the advanced mathematical modeling of electromagnetic energy harvesting in vehicle suspension systems, addressing the pressing need for sustainable transportation and improved energy efficiency. We focus on the complex challenge posed by the non-linear behavior of magnetic flux in relation to displacement, a critical aspect often overlooked in conventional approaches. Utilizing Taylor expansion and Fourier analysis, we dissect the intricate relationship between oscillation and electromagnetic damping, crucial for optimizing energy recovery. Our rigorous mathematical methodology enables the precise calculation of the average power per cycle and unit mass, providing a robust metric for evaluating the effectiveness of energy harvesting. Further, the study extends to the practical application in a combined system of passive and electromagnetic suspension, demonstrating the real-world viability of our theoretical findings. This research not only offers a comprehensive solution for enhancing vehicle efficiency through advanced suspension systems but also sets a precedent for the integration of complex mathematical techniques in solving real-world engineering challenges, contributing significantly to the future of energy-efficient automotive technologies. The cases reviewed in this article and listed as references are those commonly found in the literature.

Design and development of a novel Four-Links rotational hybrid Energy-Harvesting suspension system compatible with conventional suspension technologies

This study introduces a novel rotational Energy Harvesting Shock Absorber (EHSA), specifically designed for use alongside existing vehicle suspension systems. Addressing issues faced by standalone EHSAs, this design incorporates a four-bar mechanism coupled to a rotary energy recovery system. The proposed EHSA system, dubbed the FL-EHSA (Four Links Energy Harvesting Shock Absorber), is based on link connections and is highly versatile. It has the potential to significantly improve vehicle efficiency by harnessing energy usually wasted by traditional shock absorbers. Using a geometric definition process influenced by various factors such as vehicle suspension type and commercial availability of components, the FL-EHSA system was modeled, and bench-tested to validate the system’s energy recovery potential and performance. The movement of the mechanism was analyzed to achieve the target damping value matching the value of a conventional suspension and to maximize efficiency through DOE analysis and to avoid mechanical locking (singular positions). It explains the effect of backlash in mechanical components through simulation and highlights the importance of using dedicated gearboxes for energy recovery. In addition, this work highlights the untapped potential of four-bar mechanisms in automotive energy recovery applications. Moreover, the proposed design is easily integrated into any vehicle, making it a promising solution for EHSA systems.

The nexus of sustainability and damping: A quasi-zero stiffness and pseudo-piecewise inerter damper for vehicle suspension

This paper proposes a vibration control-energy harvesting damper (VCEHD) for vehicle suspension. The principles used in the proposed VCEHD include quasi-zero stiffness (QZS), mechanical motion rectifier (MMR), and semi-active control. In the dynamic analysis, the authors found that the inherent disengagement and engagement properties of the MMR can undermine the robustness of the system, that is, the inherent properties of the MMR as an energy harvesting device are not conducive to vibration isolation. Therefore, it needs to be restrained. According to the numerical simulation results, VCEHD cannot simultaneously achieve the minimum body displacement and the maximum energy harvest, and the energy harvest performance needs to be partially sacrificed. The experimental results show that the maximum energy output is 14.70 mW/kg, and the minimum displacement transmissibility is 24.32%. Combined with the numerical simulation results, VCEHD can harvest 8.82–97.79 W of power in actual vehicle running, which can provide auxiliary power for intelligent vehicles.