Title: Influence of bending of air spring mounts on effective stiffness and vibration isolation performance of a seat suspension considering occupant biodynamics coupled with kineto-dynamics of the suspension

Authors: Darshan Vishnu Dorugade; Subhash Rakheja; Zhou Zheng; Paul-Émile Boileau; Yumeng Yao

Addresses: CONCAVE Research Center, Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada ' CONCAVE Research Center, Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada; Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, Zhengzhou, China ' School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, China ' Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada ' School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, China

Abstract: The air spring in the seat suspension undergoes substantial bending or an inclination in the pitch plane during suspension operation, this is caused by suspension kinematics, and it strongly effects effective suspension stiffness, and thereby the vibration isolation performance. In this study, a 3D multi-body dynamic (MBD) occupant-seat-suspension model is initially developed taking into account the suspension kinematics, occupant biodynamics, and the bending deformation of the air spring. The model is validated through laboratory measurements and applied to identify optimal suspension design and the effects of spring bending on the suspension performance considering variations in seated body mass and ride height. Measurements were performed to obtain vertical force-deflection characteristics of the air spring considering two different levels of bending deformations. The data were used to develop an analytical model of the pneumatic system, which was integrated to the MBD model, and the model validity was verified using the data obtained from experiments. Simulation results showed strong influence of spring bending on suspension resonant frequency, and vibration transmissibility and relative travel. The developed model was thus employed to minimise the suspension resonance by identifying optimal base mount angle of the air spring. The results revealed that the air spring base mount angle could vary in the 18°-22° range leading to relatively lower resonant frequency, rms acceleration and peak relative travel for different seated body masses.

Keywords: pneumatic seat suspension; occupant biodynamics; air spring; multi-body dynamic seat suspension model.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVP.2026.155247

International Journal of Vehicle Performance, 2026 Vol.12 No.3, pp.362 - 378

Received: 04 Mar 2025
Accepted: 29 Jun 2025
Published online: 29 Jul 2026 *

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