PI Controller for Active Twin-Accumulator Suspension with Optimized Parameters Based on a Quarter Model

TL;DR

This paper compares passive, optimized twin-accumulator, and active suspension systems using a quarter model, demonstrating that the active PI-controlled twin-accumulator suspension improves ride quality and handling over passive systems.

Contribution

It introduces a PI controller for active twin-accumulator suspension with optimized parameters based on a multi-objective evolutionary strategy.

Findings

Twin-accumulator suspension improves ride quality over passive systems.

PI controller enhances body and wheel displacement performance.

Active suspension reduces suspension displacement and tire load.

Abstract

This paper is primarily studying the behaver of the twin-accumulator suspension over the conventional passive system focusing on ride quality behavior and road holding. Therefore, a dynamic modeling of passive and twin-accumulator suspension for a quarter model is constructed. MATLAB Simulink environment is used to develop the suspension models. The simulation is applied with two different road disturbances, namely, step input and random input to disturb the suspension system. The optimum solution is obtained numerically by utilizing a multi-objective evolutionary strategy algorithm and employing a cost function that seeks to minimize the RMS value of the body acceleration, the suspension displacement as well as the dynamic tire load. Moreover, in this work, an active suspension system with PI controller is presented in order to improve the suspension performance criteria. The simulation results of passive, optimized twin accumulator suspension and active suspension consist of body displacement, wheel deflection, vehicle body acceleration, suspension travel and dynamic tire load are compared and analyzed. Results show that the twin-accumulator suspension system gives worthwhile improvements in ride behavior compared with the passive suspension. Finally, it can be observed that the performance of body displacement and wheel displacement can be improved by using the proposed PI controller.