Title: Control performance of an electrorheological suspension system considering actuator time constant

Authors: Sang-Soo Han, Seung-Bok Choi

Addresses: Smart Structures and Systems Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 402-751, Korea. Smart Structures and Systems Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 402-751, Korea

Abstract: One of the attractive candidates to construct a successful vehicle suspension is to use an ER (electrorheological) damper. This paper presents robust control performance of a semi-active suspension system considering time constant of the actuator. After identifying dynamic bandwidth of a cylindrical ER damper operated with a commercial ER fluid, a quarter car model is established by incorporating with the time constant of the damper actuator. A robust H_∞ controller, which compensates the variation of the time constant, is designed in order to suppress unwanted vibration of the vehicle suspension. Control responses such as vertical acceleration are presented in time and frequency domains, and compared between with and without considering time constant of the ER damper. In addition, the effect of the time constant variation on vibration control performance of the vehicle suspension is investigated.

Keywords: dynamic bandwidth; ER damper; ER fluid; ER suspension system; electrorheological damper.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2002.002011

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2002 Vol.29 No.3, pp.226-242

Published online: 15 Aug 2003 *

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