Title: Fuzzy semi-active damping force estimator (fSADE) and skyhook semi-active suspension systems

Authors: Saiful Anuar Abu Bakar; Hishamuddin Jamaluddin; Roslan Abd. Rahman; Pakharuddin Mohd. Samin; Ryosuke Masuda; Hiromu Hashimoto; Takeshi Inaba

Addresses: Department of Automotive Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia. ' Department of Applied Mechanics, Faculty of Mechanical, Engineering University Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia. ' Department of Applied Mechanics, Faculty of Mechanical, Engineering University Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia. ' Department of Automotive Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia. ' Department of Applied Computer Engineering, School of Information Science and Technology, Tokai University, 1117, Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, 259-1292, Japan. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Tokai University, 1117, Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, 259-1292, Japan. ' Department of Applied Computer Engineering, School of Information Science and Technology, Tokai University 1117, Kitakaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, 259-1292, Japan

Abstract: This paper presents the comparative study on semi-active suspension controlled by skyhook algorithm and fuzzy semi-active damping force estimator (fSADE). The damping element used in the semi-active suspension is non-pressurised magnetorheological (MR) damper. The performance of magnetorheological semi-active suspension system controlled by fSADE in terms of ride comfort is evaluated in comparison with normal suspension system and skyhook semi-active suspension system. The study is also focusing on the effects of the number of fuzzy rules used in fSADE algorithm performance. Other aspects studied are the current consumption used by the MR damper as well as the damper|s ability to execute the damping forces as estimated by the controllers. The vehicle ride comforts are evaluated based on the vehicle|s vertical motions (jerk, acceleration, displacement) and pitch motions (pitch rate and pitch angle). It is shown that magnetorheological semi-active suspension system controlled by fSADE is able to improve vehicle|s ride comfort significantly compared to passive suspension and was better than the skyhook semi-active suspension system in terms of power consumption. It was also shown that the number of fuzzy rules used did affect the overall performance of the fSADE algorithm in semi-active suspension system.

Keywords: magnetorheological dampers; fuzzy SADE; semi-active damping force estimator; skyhook control; semi-active suspension systems; ride modelling; ride comfort; jerk; acceleration; displacement; pitch rate; pitch angle.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVSMT.2011.044227

International Journal of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing, 2011 Vol.6 No.3/4, pp.232 - 249

Published online: 16 Oct 2014 *

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