Newly Developed Nonlinear Vehicle Model for an Active Anti-roll Bar System

This paper presents the development of a newly developed nonlinear vehicle model is used in the validation process of the vehicle model. The parameters chosen in a newly developed vehicle model is developed based on CARSIM vehicle model by using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm version II (NSGA-II) optimization method. The ride comfort and handling performances have been one of the main objective to fulfil the expectation of customers in the vehicle development. Full nonlinear vehicle model which consists of ride, handling and Magic tyre subsystems has been derived and developed in MATLAB/Simulink. Then, optimum values of the full nonlinear vehicle parameters are investigated by using NSGA-II. The two objective functions are established based on RMS error between simulation and benchmark system. A stiffer suspension provides good stability and handling during manoeuvres while softer suspension gives better ride quality. The final results indicated that the newly developed nonlinear vehicle model is behaving accurately with input ride and manoeuvre. The outputs trend are successfully replicated

Optimisation of racing car suspensions featuring inerters

Racing car suspensions are a critical system in the overall performance of the vehicle. They must be able to accurately control ride dynamics as well as influencing the handling characteristics of the vehicle and providing stability under the action of external forces. This work is a research study on the design and optimisation of high performance vehicle suspensions using inerters. The starting point is a theoretical investigation of the dynamics of a system fitted with an ideal inerter. This sets the foundation for developing a more complex and novel vehicle suspension model incorporating real inerters. The accuracy and predictability of this model has been assessed and validated against experimental data from 4- post rig testing. In order to maximise overall vehicle performance, a race car suspension must meet a large number of conflicting objectives. Hence, suspension design and optimisation is a complex task where a compromised solution among a set of objectives needs to be adopted. The first task in this process is to define a set of performance based objective functions. The approach taken was to relate the ride dynamic behaviour of the suspension to the overall performance of the race car. The second task of the optimisation process is to develop an efficient and robust optimisation methodology. To address this, a multi-stage optimisation algorithm has been developed. The algorithm is based on two stages, a hybrid surrogate model based multiobjective evolutionary algorithm to obtain a set of non-dominated optimal suspension solutions and a transient lap-time simulation tool to incorporate external factors to the decision process and provide a final optimal solution. A transient lap-time simulation tool has been developed. The minimum time manoeuvring problem has been defined as an Optimal Control problem. A novel solution method based on a multi-level algorithm and a closed-loop driver steering control has been proposed to find the optimal lap time. The results obtained suggest that performance gains can be obtained by incorporating inerters into the suspension system. The work suggests that the use of inerters provides the car with an optimised aerodynamic platform and the overall stability of the vehicle is improved

Optimised configuration of sensing elements for control and fault tolerance applied to an electro-magnetic suspension system

New technological advances and the requirements to increasingly abide by new safety laws in engineering design projects highly affects industrial products in areas such as automotive, aerospace and railway industries. The necessity arises to design reduced-cost hi-tech products with minimal complexity, optimal performance, effective parameter robustness properties, and high reliability with fault tolerance. In this context the control system design plays an important role and the impact is crucial relative to the level of cost efficiency of a product. Measurement of required information for the operation of the design control system in any product is a vital issue, and in such cases a number of sensors can be available to select from in order to achieve the desired system properties. However, for a complex engineering system a manual procedure to select the best sensor set subject to the desired system properties can be very complicated, time consuming or even impossible to achieve. This is more evident in the case of large number of sensors and the requirement to comply with optimum performance. The thesis describes a comprehensive study of sensor selection for control and fault tolerance with the particular application of an ElectroMagnetic Levitation system (being an unstable, nonlinear, safety-critical system with non-trivial control performance requirements). The particular aim of the presented work is to identify effective sensor selection frameworks subject to given system properties for controlling (with a level of fault tolerance) the MagLev suspension system. A particular objective of the work is to identify the minimum possible sensors that can be used to cover multiple sensor faults, while maintaining optimum performance with the remaining sensors. The tools employed combine modern control strategies and multiobjective constraint optimisation (for tuning purposes) methods. An important part of the work is the design and construction of a 25kg MagLev suspension to be used for experimental verification of the proposed sensor selection frameworks

Optimised combinatorial control strategy for active anti-roll bar system for ground vehicle

The objective of this paper is to optimise the proposed control strategy for an active anti-roll bar system using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) tuning method. By using an active anti-roll control strategy, the controller can adapt to current road conditions and manoeuvres unlike a passive anti-roll bar. The optimisation solution offers a rather noticeable improvement results compared to the manually-tuned method. From the application point of view, both tuning process can be used. However, using optimisation method gives a multiple choice of solutions and provides the optimal parameters compared to manual tuning method

Handling-Oriented Stiffness Control of a Multichamber Suspension

This paper deals with the development of a handling-oriented stiffness control strategy using multichamber suspensions. Indeed, being this technology capable of stiffness variability, it is particularly indicated for improving the vehicle handling performance, here intended as the reduction of roll and pitch angles during maneuvers. The proposed strategy exploits the multichamber's inner features in order to enhance the performance: simulation results show improvements up to 12% compared to the best passive stiffness configuration, still preventing deterioration of the driving comfort

Multiobjective optimization framework for designing a steering system considering structural features and full vehicle dynamics

[EN] Vehicle handling and stability performance and ride comfort is normally assessed through standard field test procedures, which are time consuming and expensive. However, the rapid development of digital technologies in the automotive industry have enabled to properly model and simulate the full-vehicle dynamics, thus drastically reducing design and manufacturing times and costs while enhancing the performance, safety, and longevity of vehicle systems. This paper focus on a computationally efficient multi-objective optimization framework for developing an optimal design of a vehicle steering system, which is carried out by coupling certain computer-aided design tools (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) software. The 3D CAD model of the steering system is made using SolidWorks, the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is modelled using Ansys Workbench, while the multibody kinematic and dynamic is analysed using Adams/Car. They are embedded in a multidisciplinary optimization design framework (modeFrontier) with the aim of determining the optimal hardpoint locations of the suspension and steering systems. This is achieved by minimizing the Ackermann error and toe angle deviations, together with the volume, mass, and maximum stresses of the rack-and-pinion steering mechanism. This enhances the vehicle stability, safety, manoeuvrability, and passengers' comfort, extends the vehicle systems reliability and fatigue life, while reducing the tire wear. The method has been successfully applied to different driving scenarios and vehicle maneuvers to find the optimal Pareto front and analyse the performance and behaviour of the steering system. Results show that the design of the steering system can be significantly improved using this approach.Llopis-Albert, C.; Rubio Montoya, FJ.; Devece Carañana, CA.; Zeng, S. (2023). 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A motion-scheduled LPV control of full car vertical dynamics

International audienceIn this paper, we present a new Linear Parameter Varying LPV/H ∞ motion adaptive suspension controller that takes into account the three main motions of the vehicle vertical dynamics: bounce, roll and pitch motions. The new approach aims, by using a detection of the vehicle motions, at designing a controller which is able to adapt the suspension forces in the four corners of the vehicle according to the dynamical motions, in order to mitigate these vertical dynamics which could be stimulated by the road-induced vibrations, making a tight turn or an evasive manoeuvre, braking or accelerating. The main idea of this strategy is to use three scheduling parameters, representative of the motion distribution in the car dynamics, to adapt and distribute efficiently the suspension actuators. The motion detection strategy is based on the supervison of load transfer distribution. A full 7 degree of freedom (DOF) vertical model is used to describe the body motion (chassis and wheels), and to synthesize the LPV controller. The controller solution is derived in the framework of the LPV/H ∞ and based on the LMI solution for polytopic systems. Some simulations are presented in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach

Artificial neural network predication and validation of optimum suspension parameters of a passive suspension system

This paper presents the modeling and optimization of quarter car suspension system using Macpherson strut. A mathematical model of quarter car is developed, simulated and optimized in Matlab/Simulink® environment. The results are validated using test rig. The suspension system parameters are optimized using a genetic algorithm for objective functions viz. vibration dose value (VDV), frequency weighted root mean square acceleration (hereafter called as RMS acceleration), maximum transient vibration value, root mean square suspension space and root mean square tyre deflection. ISO 2631-1 standard is adopted to assess ride and health criterion. Results shows that optimum parameters provide ride comfort and health criterions over classical design. The optimization results are experimentally validated using quarter car test setup. The genetic algorithm optimization results are further extended to the artificial neural network simulation and prediction model. Artificial neural network model is carried out in Matlab/Simulink® environment and Neuro Dimensions. Simulation, experimental and predicted results are in close correlation. The optimized system reduces the values of VDV by 45%. Also, RMS acceleration is reduced by 47%. Thus, the optimized system improved ride comfort by reducing RMS acceleration and improved health criterion by reducing the VDV. Finally ANN can be used for predicting the optimum suspension parameters values with good agreement

Control and Evaluation of Slow-Active Suspensions with Preview for a Full Car

An optimal control design method based on the use of the correlation between the front and rear wheel inputs (wheelbase preview) is introduced and then applied to the optimum design of a slow-active suspension system. The suspension consists of a limited bandwidth actuator in series with a passive spring, the combination being in parallel with a passive damper. A three-dimensional seven degrees of freedom car riding model subjected to four correlated random road inputs is considered. The performance potential of the limited bandwidth system with wheelbase preview in comparison with the nonpreview (uncorrelated inputs) case is investigated