Title: Ride comfort analysis of hydro-pneumatic suspension considering variable damping matched with dynamitic load

Authors: Xuepeng Cao; Zenglu Zhao; Wenfeng Zhu; Gaoqi Lian; Min Ye; Mohammad Manjur Alam

Addresses: Key Laboratory of Road Construction Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710064, China ' Key Laboratory of Road Construction Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710064, China ' Key Laboratory of Road Construction Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710064, China ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117575, Singapore ' Key Laboratory of Road Construction Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710064, China ' Key Laboratory of Road Construction Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710064, China

Abstract: Mining trucks are frequently used in the quarrying industry, where the suspension system plays a vital role in ensuring driving stability. Addressing the limitations of traditional hydro-pneumatic suspension, which struggle to accommodate varying load conditions adequately, we propose a novel suspension structure with real-time adjustable damping. This system dynamically adapts the internal spool position and piston rod stroke to achieve self-adjustment of damping, ensuring optimal performance across different loads. We establish elastic and damping force models by considering the interaction between external vibration excitation and internal structure. Subsequently, we analyse the damping stiffness characteristics of the suspension under various load conditions, evaluating its suitability. Simulation models are then developed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed variable damping hydro-pneumatic suspension. Results indicate that, compared to fixed damping systems, the variable damping suspension offers improved ride comfort and stability across load conditions. Specifically, under full-load, peak acceleration decreases by 0.17 and stability time shortens by 1.8 s, under medium load, peak acceleration reduces by 0.4 and stability time decreases by 1.4s, under no-load, peak acceleration decreases by 0.45 and stability time shortens by 0.7s. Effectively improve the smoothness under different loads and the driver's comfort.

Keywords: hydro-pneumatic suspension; variable damping; varying load conditions; damping matching; ride comfort.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHM.2025.148507

International Journal of Hydromechatronics, 2025 Vol.8 No.3, pp.317 - 342

Received: 05 Nov 2024
Accepted: 07 Mar 2025
Published online: 09 Sep 2025 *

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