摘要

This paper proposes an analytical technique for frequency analysis and the design of nonlinear dampers to further improve ride dynamics performance of vehicle suspensions over a wide range of excitation frequencies. Using the energy balance method (EBM), the proposed methodology estimates the equivalent linear damping coefficient of any nonlinear passive damper whose force is a general function of the damper's relative displacement and relative velocity. Knowing the equivalent linear damping coefficient makes it possible to perform a frequency analysis of the suspension ride performance with any nonlinear damper. Some specific criteria are defined to design the desired form of equivalent linear damping coefficient which provides a high/small damping ratio at low-/high-frequency excitations, so the corresponding nonlinear damping force required to obtain improved ride performance of the suspension using a 1-degree-of-freedom quarter car model is also defined. A sensitivity analysis is then performed to provide a design guideline. The results show that the dependency of the equivalent damping coefficient either relative to the velocity of the suspension (velocity-dependent damper) or the relative displacement of the suspension (position-dependent damper) could provide a variable damping ratio leading to better vibration isolation over the excitation frequency. A noticeable ride dynamic performance can be reached over the entire range of the excitation frequency by designing a nonlinear damper such that its equivalent linear damping ratio becomes a desired function of both its relative displacement and relative velocity (position-velocity-dependent damper).