Title: Study on basic features of gas-liquid mechanical coupling suspension strut

Authors: Haobin Jiang; Shenchen Ye; Yingjun Du

Addresses: School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China ' School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China ' School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China

Abstract: A new type of suspension strut consisting of an air spring and a single drum hydraulic shock absorber is proposed. A gas-liquid mechanical coupling mathematical model of the suspension strut was built based on fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. The relationship between suspension strut acting force and stroke as well as piston velocity was studied. Additionally, the influence was evaluated which the main air spring chamber's original air pressure and absorber's damping gears can be made for the suspension strut acting force. It was found in simulation and experiment that the non-linearity of the strut acting force is obvious and the property of this strut helps to restrain heeling, pitching and 'suspension breakdown' under bumpy road conditions, and to keep a good wheel bouncing. This paper provides theories and technical foundation for the application of this suspension strut in the passive suspension system and semi-active suspension system.

Keywords: suspension struts; stroke-dependent acting force; mathematical modelling; bench tests; gas-liquid mechanical coupling; air springs; hydraulic shock absorbers; vehicle suspension; fluid mechanics; thermodynamics; air pressure; damping gears; simulation; nonlinearity; heeling; pitching; suspension breakdown; bumpy roads; wheel bounce; passive suspension; semi-active suspension.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2016.079192

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2016 Vol.72 No.1, pp.88 - 105

Accepted: 03 Feb 2016
Published online: 22 Sep 2016 *

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