Title: Study of ride comfort using a nonlinear mathematical model of a vehicle suspension

Authors: A. Jolly

Addresses: Research Engineer, Direction des Recherches et des Developpements de la Regie Nationale des Usines Renault, Rueil-Malmaison, France

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to describe an approach for the design of a new car suspension, using a nonlinear mathematical model. In this paper, a brief description of the linear de Carbon model and of its properties is first recalled; the effects and the importance of some nonlinear parameters are then discussed; a model including these parameters is introduced and it is shown that this nonlinear model still approximately verifies one property of the de Carbon model. Using this important characteristic, a procedure for the design of a new suspension using a nonlinear model is presented, which examines the influence on comfort of the radial stiffening of the tyres when the frequency of excitation is increased, of the friction and of other nonlinear parameters. In conclusion, the described procedure allows for a fast and efficient design of a new car suspension, by offering an alternative to the trial and error method.

Keywords: ride comfort; vehicle suspension; suspension design; dynamic behaviour; mathematical modelling; de Carbon model; vehicle design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1983.061313

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1983 Vol.4 No.3, pp.233 - 244

Published online: 25 May 2014 *

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