Large Force Range Mechanically Adjustable Dampers for Heavy Vehicle Applications

Semi-active dampers utilizing various working principles have been developed for a variety of vehicles. These semi-active dampers have been designed to resolve the ride and handling compromise associated with conventional passive dampers, and increase vehicle stability. This thesis briefly reviews existing semi-active damper designs, including but not limited to MR dampers, before presenting two new prototype semi-active hydraulic dampers. Both prototype dampers are designed to provide a large force range while maintaining easily controllable valve characteristics. The first of these dampers served primarily as a proof of concept and a means of understanding the dynamics of a disc valve housed inside the main piston. The valve design is presented, along with other information concerning the fabrication of the Initial Prototype damper. Test results are presented and analyzed, and a second iteration of the valve is designed. The Final Prototype damper is a scaled up version of the initial design, with refinements made in piston geometry, internal disc profile, and dynamic seals. This large force range damper is tested and results are compared with existing MR dampers. The Final Prototype damper provides a significantly larger force range when compared with typical MR dampers. Finally, to conclude this research, the vehicle dynamics implications of the Final Prototype damper are discussed and recommendations for further study are made.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Burke, William Churchill Taliaferro

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Ahmadian, Mehdi

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Taheri, Saied
• Inman, Daniel J.

• electro-hydraulic damper
• mechanically adjustable damper
• magnetorheological damper
• heavy truck

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-06022010-182024

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/33386