Title: Parametric uncertainty analysis of vehicle suspensions

Authors: Fangwu Ma, Yongxin Men, Zixue Du

Addresses: College of Automotive Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, 66 Xuefu Road, Nan'an District, Chongqing 400074, China. ' College of Automotive Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, 66 Xuefu Road, Nan'an District, Chongqing 400074, China. ' College of Automotive Engineering, Chongqing Jiaotong University, 66 Xuefu Road, Nan'an District, Chongqing 400074, China

Abstract: To improve the vehicle ride and handling, parametric uncertainty in active suspension systems is addressed. A numerical model with parametric uncertainty is proposed and its state equations derived. Robustness analyses are carried out based on a quarter vehicle model. The H controller is shown to provide the best control strategy in terms of stability and performance robustness. Optimised control approaches are studied using the quarter vehicle application. The effects of parameter variation are examined in frequency and time domains. The results show that H-based control is the best with regards to body acceleration, dynamic tyre deflection and suspension deflection.

Keywords: active suspension; robust control; system uncertainty; vehicle suspensions; vehicle design; ride comfort; parametric uncertainty; vehicle handling; optimal control; body acceleration; dynamic tyre deflection; suspension deflection.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2008.020882

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2008 Vol.47 No.1/2/3/4, pp.102 - 117

Published online: 22 Oct 2008 *

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