Modelling and experimental validation of an adaptive interconnected suspension with adjustable roll stiffness (AIS-ARS)

Abstract

Vehicle suspensions play a critical role in improving vehicle stability and ride quality, especially in heavy vehicles that usually have high centre-of-gravity and carry tons of cargo. Interconnected suspension systems, in which the suspension struts are connected through hydraulic hoses and flow control devices, have great potential to enhance vehicle handling stability and attenuate vibrations. This study introduces an adaptive interconnected suspension with adjustable roll stiffness (AIS-ARS) to address the shortcomings of existing designs. It not only eliminates the conventional anti-roll bars but also enables adjustment of roll stiffness depending on the driving and vehicle load conditions. The AIS-ARS system uses a unique design that avoids using expensive electro-proportional flow control valves, which has been a significant barrier to widespread implementation. Instead, the system utilises a cost-effective control strategy that uses only two solenoid valves to achieve adaptive damping. The mathematical modelling of the AIS-ARS is also straightforward, requiring less computational power and making it more practical for real-time implementations. Overall, the AIS-ARS system represents a significant advancement in the design of interconnected suspension systems, offering a more cost-effective, practical, and versatile solution. The above features are validated through laboratory experiments and co-simulation between MATLAB/Simulink and ADAMS/Car.

KEYWORDS:

• Interconnected suspension
• adjustable stiffness
• roll stability
• ride quality
• adaptive damping

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Shandong Meichen Industry Group Co. Ltd. in this research. The technical assistance of Michael Duthie, Jeff Graansma, and Aaron Sherratt from the Mechatronic Vehicle Systems Lab at the University of Waterloo is very appreciated.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).