Title: Simulated annealing approach to the optimal design of automotive suspension systems

Authors: I. Rajendran, S. Vijayarangan

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam – 638401, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Dr. Mahalingam College of Engineering and Technology, Pollachi – 642003, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: This paper presents an approach for the design optimisation of suspension springs, such as coil springs, torsion bar springs, steel leaf springs and composite leaf springs, using a Simulated Annealing algorithm. Around 14.39% of coil spring mass and 7.12% of torsion bar spring mass are reduced. In the case of steel leaf springs, 14.40% of mass, under two variables condition and 16.58% of mass, under three variables condition are reduced. Similarly, 22.93% of mass under two variables condition and 29.28% of mass under three variables condition are reduced in the optimisation process of composite leaf springs. When the composite leaf spring is compared with the conventional steel leaf spring, the mass reduction obtained before optimisation is 83.52% and mass reduction obtained after optimisation is 85.16% in the case of two variables condition and 86.03% in the case of three variables condition for the same load carrying capacity and stiffness.

Keywords: coil springs; composite leaf springs; optimisation; simulated annealing; steel leaf springs; suspension springs; torsion bar springs; unsprung weight; optimal design; automotive suspension; vehicle suspensions; suspension design; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2007.012293

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2007 Vol.43 No.1/2/3/4, pp.11 - 30

Published online: 04 Feb 2007 *

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