Title: Control and vibration of rail vehicle semi-active suspensions with comfort evaluation

Authors: Mortadha Graa; Mohamed Nejlaoui; Zouhaier Affi; Ajmi Houidi; Lotfi Romdhane

Addresses: Laboratoire de Génie Mécanique (LGM), Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Tunisia ' Laboratoire de Génie Mécanique (LGM), Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Tunisia ' Laboratoire de Génie Mécanique (LGM), Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Tunisia ' Laboratoire de Mécanique de Sousse (LMS), Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sousse, Université de Sousse, Tunisia ' Laboratoire de Mécanique de Sousse (LMS), Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sousse, Université de Sousse, Tunisia; College of Engineering, American University of Sharjah, UAE

Abstract: This paper deals with the modelling and control of rail vehicle semi-active suspensions. The analytical models of the quarter rail vehicle with a passenger seat, describing the vertical motion, are presented for semi-active and passive suspensions. Two controllers, i.e., PID-ZN and LQR are designed in order to improve the passenger comfort. This comfort is evaluated in terms of the passenger displacement and vibration. These comfort criteria are evaluated as a response of a rail imperfection excitation. The obtained results prove that the semi-active suspension with a LQR controller yields the best results compared to PID controller.

Keywords: ISO 2631; semi-active suspension; passive suspension; linear quadratic regulator; LQR; PID; rail vehicle; comfort.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVNV.2017.086028

International Journal of Vehicle Noise and Vibration, 2017 Vol.13 No.1, pp.52 - 65

Received: 04 Jul 2016
Accepted: 23 Jan 2017

Published online: 21 Aug 2017 *

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