Title
On the achievable performance using variable geometry active secondary suspension systems in commercial vehicles
Author
Evers, W.J.
Besselink, I.G.M.
Teerhuis, A.P.
Nijmeijer, H.
Publication year
2011
Abstract
There is a need to further improve driver comfort in commercial vehicles. The variable geometry active suspension offers an interesting option to achieve this in an energy efficient way. However, the optimal control strategy and the overal performance potential remains unclear. The aim of this paper is to quantify the level of performance improvement that can theoretically be obtained by replacing a conventional air sprung cabin suspension design with a variable geometry active suspension. Furthermore, the difference between the use of a linear quadratic (LQ) optimal controller and a classic skyhook controller is investigated. Hereto, an elementary variable geometry actuator model and experimentally validated four degrees of freedom quarter truck model are adopted. The results show that the classic skyhook controller gives a relatively poor performance while a comfort increase of 17-28% can be obtained with the LQ optimal controller, depending on the chosen energy weighting. Furthermore, an additional 75% comfort increase and 77% energy cost reduction can be obtained, with respect to the fixed gain energy optimal controller, using condition-dependent control gains. So, it is concluded that the performance potential using condition-dependent controllers is huge, and that the use of the classic skyhook control strategy should, in general, be avoided when designing active secondary suspensions for commercial vehicles.
Subject
Mechatronics, Mechanics & Materials
IVS - Integrated Vehicle Safety
TS - Technical Sciences
Reliable Mobility Systems
Traffic
Mobility
Active suspension
Heavy duty vehicles
Ride comfort
Suspension control
Variable geometry
Actuators
Automobile suspensions
Cost reduction
Geometry
Optimal control systems
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:325ca822-bd48-4699-9718-49266105b7d1
TNO identifier
435948
ISSN
0042-3114
Source
Vehicle System Dynamics, 49 (10), 1553-1573
Document type
article