Title: Roll plane analysis of a hydro-pneumatic suspension with twin-gas-chamber struts

Authors: D. Cao, S. Rakheja, C-Y. Su

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, CONCAVE Research Centre, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1M8, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, CONCAVE Research Centre, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1M8, Canada. ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, CONCAVE Research Centre, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1M8, Canada

Abstract: A hydro-pneumatic strut comprising two gas chambers is proposed to realise nearly symmetric vertical stiffness properties in compression and rebound, and progressively hardening roll stiffness. The fundamental properties of the proposed struts are derived in terms of suspension rate and roll stiffness through formulations of strut forces in the roll plane of a vehicle. Dynamic responses are investigated under excitations arising from vehicle-road interactions and a steady centrifugal acceleration. The results demonstrate that the suspension with proposed struts could reduce ride height drift, and improve suspension topping, tyre deflection and roll response characteristics, with negligible influence on vertical and roll ride.

Keywords: hydropneumatic suspension; ride height drift; roll stiffness; suspension rate; suspension topping; twin-gas-chamber strut; vertical stiffness; compression; rebound; vehicle-road interaction; heavy vehicles; vehicle suspension; tyre deflection; roll response.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2007.015707

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2007 Vol.14 No.4, pp.355 - 375

Published online: 09 Nov 2007 *

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