Vibration Control of a MR Seat Damper for Commercial Vehicles

• Published in: Journal of intelligent material systems and structures 2000-12, Vol.11 (12), p.936-944
• Main Authors: Choi, Seung-Bok, Nam, Moo-Ho, Lee, Byung-Kyu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Machine components; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Physics; Solid mechanics; Springs and dampers; Structural and continuum mechanics; Vibration, mechanical wave, dynamic stability (aeroelasticity, vibration control...); Vibrations and mechanical waves
• ISSN: 1045-389X; 1530-8138
• DOI: 10.1106/AERG-3QKV-31V8-F250

This paper presents vibration control of a semi-active seat suspension with a magneto-rheological (MR) fluid damper, which is applicable to commercial vehicles such as large size of trucks. A cylindrical MR seat damper is designed on the basis of the Bingham model of the MR fluid. After manufacturing the seat damper, field-dependent damping force characteristics are experimentally evaluated. A semi-active seat suspension system installed with the seat damper is then constructed and its governing equation of motion is derived. A skyhook controller to reduce vibration level at the driver’s seat is formulated and realized in a closed-loop control fashion. The control responses, such as acceleration transmissibility, are investigated in both frequency and time domains. In addition, a full-vehicle model featuring the proposed semi-active seat suspension is established and its vibration control performances are evaluated via the hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HILS).