Title: Improving curving performance of a straddle type monorail vehicle by using semi-active devices

Authors: Ali S. Yıldız; S. Sivrioğlu

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sivas University of Science and Technology, Sivas, Turkey ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Antalya Bilim University, Antalya, Turkey

Abstract: This paper is concerned with improving the curving performance of the monorail vehicles which are one of the modern mass transport systems, by using semi-active magnetorheological (MR) dampers. Controlling the curving dynamic of the monorail vehicles with semi-active devices is a new research area. The considered monorail vehicle has one segment supported by two bogies. As a secondary suspension, lateral and vertical MR dampers are taken into consideration in addition to air suspensions. Control performances of the robust H_∞ and adaptive control are investigated and compared with passive case along a designed road profile. Parametric uncertainties in running tyres and vehicle mass are taking into consideration in the control simulations. Simulation results show that the designed controllers improved the roll, yaw and vertical motions of the monorail vehicle when compared to uncontrolled and passive cases. These improvements provide better comfort and safer condition as well as small turning radius can be achieved by monorail vehicles equipped with the semi-active suspension system.

Keywords: semi-active suspension; MR damper; adaptive controller; monorail vehicle; H_∞ control.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2021.117498

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2021 Vol.28 No.3, pp.385 - 408

Received: 05 Feb 2018
Accepted: 12 Aug 2018
Published online: 10 Sep 2021 *

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