An interconnected suspension with adjustable roll and pitch stiffness (IS-ARPS) to enhance anti-roll and anti-dive/squat characteristics

Abstract

The suspension system is critical in maintaining vehicle stability in roll and pitch directions. Hydro-pneumatic interconnected suspension systems, in which the suspension struts are connected through hydraulic hoses, flow control valves, and accumulators, have great potential to further enhance anti-roll and anti-pitch characteristics. To address the existing designs’ shortcomings, this study introduces an interconnected suspension with adjustable roll and pitch stiffness (IS-ARPS). It not only eliminates the conventional anti-roll bars but also enables adjustment of roll stiffness depending on the driving and vehicle load conditions. In the pitch direction, the IS-ARPS provides an additional amount of pitch stiffness to reduce the dive/squat during braking/acceleration. The mathematical modeling of the IS-ARPS is also straightforward, requiring less computational cost and making it more practical for real-time implementations. Overall, the IS-ARPS system represents a significant advancement in the design of roll and pitch coupled interconnected suspensions, offering a more practical and versatile solution. The above features are examined through co-simulation between MATLAB/Simulink and ADAMS/Car.