Title: Study on a novel dual-mode interconnected suspension

Authors: Qilin Yao; Xinjie Zhang; Konghui Guo; Yehai Yang; Jun Feng

Addresses: State Key Laboratory of Automotive Simulation and Control, Jilin University, No. 5988, Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, China ' State Key Laboratory of Automotive Simulation and Control, Jilin University, No. 5988, Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, China ' State Key Laboratory of Automotive Simulation and Control, Jilin University, No. 5988, Renmin Street, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, China ' Total Vehicle Quality Management, BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd., No. 1, BMW Road, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110143, China ' Chassis & Powertrain Integration Department, Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center Co., Ltd., No. 3999, Longdong Avenue, Shanghai, 201201, China

Abstract: To achieve an optimal solution for the conflicting vehicle performance requirements, such as the handling stability and ride comfort, a novel dual-mode interconnected suspension (DIS) with a switching configuration depending on the vehicle working conditions is proposed in this paper. The DIS system has two modes: default mode and anti-pitch mode, and the DIS system configuration and working principle are presented, and a mathematical model is derived based on the hydraulic circuit flow-pressure relationships. Then, the switching threshold is optimised, and the behaviours of four vehicles with different suspension configurations are studied under different manoeuvres. The simulation results demonstrate the proposed DIS suspension's benefits in reducing vehicle roll/pitch motion and improving vehicle ride comfort, and it has the potential to be widely used in the future.

Keywords: DIS; dual-mode interconnected suspension; switching threshold; ride comfort; vehicle handling; optimisation; vehicle suspension; handling stability; mathematical modelling; hydraulic circuit flow-pressure; simulation; roll-pitch motion; vehicle roll; vehicle pitch.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2015.071071

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2015 Vol.68 No.1/2/3, pp.81 - 103

Received: 29 Mar 2014
Accepted: 30 Oct 2014
Published online: 11 Aug 2015 *

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