This thesis describes the implementation of a parametric model of an automotive damper. The goal of this research was to create a damper model to predict accurately damping forces to be used as a design tool for the Formula SAE racecar team. This study pertains to monotube gas charged dampers appropriate to Formula SAE racecar applications. The model accounts for each individual flow path in the damper, and employs a flow resistance model for each flow path. The deflection of the shim stack was calculated from a force balance and linked to the flow resistance. These equations yield a system of nonlinear equations that was solved using Newton's iterative method. The goal of this model was to create accurately force vs. velocity and force vs. displacement plots for examination. A shock dynamometer was used to correlate the model to real damper data for verification of accuracy. With a working model, components including the bleed orifice, piston orifice, and compression and rebound shims which were varied to gain an understanding of effects on the damping force.

Shock absorbers are crucial components of a vehicle’s chassis responsible for the trade-off between stability, handling, and passenger comfort. The aim of the thesis is to investigate the physical behavior of an advanced automotive racing shock absorber, known as TTR, developed by Öhlins Racing AB. This goal is achieved by developing a detailed lumped parameter numerical model of the entire TTR suspension in the advanced 1D simulation tool, AMESim. The shock absorber is mainly composed of the main cylinder with through-rod piston design and the gas reservoir located at the low pressure hydraulic line, which connects the compression and rebound sides. The mentioned sides are identical in terms of the components which are a High Speed Adjuster, a Low Speed Adjuster, and a check valve mounted in parallel. The adjusters are special hydraulic valves, which can be modified in terms of flow metering characteristics by means of external accessible screws. Adjustment is done in a series of discrete numbers called ‘clicks’. A fixed orifice and a spring-loaded poppet valve are responsible for controlling the piston low and high speed regions respectively. The developed AMESim numerical model is capable of capturing the physics behind the real shock absorber damping characteristics, under both static and dynamic conditions. The model is developed mainly using the standard AMESim mechanical, hydraulic and hydraulic component design libraries and allows discovering the impact of each single hydraulic component on the TTR overall behavior. In particular, the 1D model is presented in two levels of progressive physical complexity in order to improve the dynamic damping characteristics. Several physical phenomena are considered, such as the hydraulics volumes pressure dynamics, the contribution of external spring and pressure forces to the dynamic balance of the moving elements, the static and viscous frictions, and the elastic deformations induced by solid boundaries pressure. In this thesis, progressive model validation with different types of measurements is as well presented, covering the individual hydraulic components models as well as the entire shock absorber model. The measurements have been performed on the flow benches and dynamometers available at the Öhlins Racing measurements laboratory. These comparisons, deeply discussed in the thesis, allow discovering the impact of specific physical effects on the low and high speed hydraulic valves static performance and on the shock absorber dynamic behavior. Numerical results show good agreement, especially at low and medium frequencies and symmetric ‘click’ adjustments on compression and rebound sides. Further model development is necessary in the other areas, for example by considering more complex models of the valve dynamics and fluid flow patterns, i.e. flow forces, together with more advanced models of the sealing elements viscous friction, and thermal effects. Finally, the AMESim environments offered a good level of flexibility in designing the TTR hydro-mechanical system, by allowing the user to choose between different levels of model complexity.

An aim of the given thesis is creating of a computational model of strain-stress behaviour of shock absorbers made of plastic and hyperelastic material. First step is get ecquaint with theory of large strains, theory of hyperelasticity and plasticity. Next step is get ecquaint with options of commercial programs based on MKP. Based on this knowledge, models of simple shock absorber are made. With created models, crash tests are simulated and property of shock absorbers are compared.

This Diploma thesis deals with the design of facilities for measuring characteristics of the cars shock absorbers. It describes damped vibration, construction design of shock absorbers and their diagnostics methods followed by description of shock absorbers characteristics and the design of linear motor driven device.

Magnetorheolgical (MR) fluid dampers have the capability of changing their effective damping force depending on the current input to the damper. A number of factors in the construction of the damper, as well as the properties of the fluid and the electromagnet, create a dynamic response of the damper that cannot be fully described with a static model dependent on current and velocity. This study will compare different techniques for modeling the force response of the damper in the current-velocity space. To ensure that all the dynamic response characteristics of the damper are captured in data collection, random input signals were used for velocity and current inputs. By providing a normally distributed random signal for velocity to a shock dynamometer and a uniformly distributed random signal for current to a Lord rheonetic seat damper, the force response could be measured. The data from this test is analyzed as a two dimensional signal, a three dimensional force plot in the current velocity plane, and as a probability density function. Four models are created to fit the data. The first is a linear model dependent solely on current. The second is a nonlinear model dependent on both current and velocity. The third model takes the nonlinear model and includes a filter that affects the force response of the model with time. Each of these three approaches are compared based on the total error in the force response and the models? ability to match the PDF of the data. Finally, a fourth model is created for the damper that improves the nonlinear model by making one parameter a probability parameter defined by a PDF calculated from the data. However, because it is a probability model, the error cannot be found through comparison to the data. / Master of Science

This diploma thesis deals with the landing gear design of the small two-seat aircraft. The introduction focuses on the conceptual gear design and shock absorber computational dynamic characteristic model. The practical part is focused on the landing gear construction according to the selected parameters based on the conceptual and computational model. The diploma thesis ends with strength calculations and production documentation.

In recent years, a flurry of interest has been shown for a relatively old technology called magneto-rheological fluids, or MR fluids. Multiple types of devices have been designed to implement this versatile fluid, including linear dampers, clutches, work-piece fixtures, and polishing machines. The devices have been used in automobiles, washing machines, bicycles, prosthetic limbs, and even smart structures. This thesis focuses on another application of MR dampers, involving super-sport motorcycles. This paper introduces the topics of MR dampers and motorcycle suspensions, and why the two would be a good combination. A detailed history of MR fluids, MR dampers, and motorcycle suspension technologies is given next. After a broad outline of MR dampers and motorcycle suspensions, the method of designing and manufacturing MR dampers is discussed. The damper design for this research is presented in detail, along with the design procedure used to make it. Next, laboratory testing for it is covered, including the test equipment, test procedure, and the laboratory test results. Upon laboratory test completion, the field test setup and procedure are presented. The results of field tests with stock dampers and MR dampers with a variety of control systems is discussed. The MR dampers provided a more stable ride than that of the OEM dampers. By reducing suspension displacement, settling time, and suspension oscillations, the MR dampers were able to reduce suspension geometry instability. Lastly, concluding remarks are made on the research presented. Design flaws are discussed, as well as recommendations for future work in the same area. / Master of Science

Investigations on the design of controllable magnetorheological (MR) fluid devices have focused heavily on low velocity and low frequency applications. The extensive work in this area has led to a good understanding of MR fluid properties at low velocities and frequencies. However, the issues concerning MR fluid behavior in impact and shock applications are relatively unknown. To investigate MR fluid properties in this regime, MR dampers were subjected to impulsive loads. A drop-tower test facility was developed to simulate the impact events. The design includes a guided drop-mass released from variable heights to achieve different impact energies. Five drop-heights and two fundamental MR damper configurations were tested. The two configurations were a double-ended piston and a mono-tube with nitrogen accumulator. To separate the dynamics of the MR fluid from the dynamics of the current source, each damper received a constant supply current before the impact event. A total of five supply currents were investigated for each impact velocity. After reviewing the results, it was concluded that the effect of energizing the MR fluid only leads to "controllability" below a certain fluid velocity for the double-ended design. In other words, until the fluid velocity dropped below some threshold, the MR fluid behaved as if it was not energized, regardless of the strength of the magnetic field. Controllability was defined when greater supply currents yielded larger damping forces. For the mono-tube design, it was shown that the MR fluid was unable to travel through the gap fast enough during the initial impact. Consequently, the damper piston and accumulator piston traveled in unison until the accumulator bottomed out. After which, the fluid was forced through the gap. In conclusion, the two designs were compared and general recommendations on designing MR dampers for impulsive loading were made. Possible directions for future research were presented as well. / Master of Science

This Diploma thesis deals with the design of device for measurement of vehicle shock absorbers. It describes shock absorbers and options for their diagnostics. In the next part describes design of device, strength analysis, modal analysis, and cost estimate. Transferring torque of device is realized by scotch yoke mechanism.

This thesis was made together with Syntronic, a leading design house specializing in advanced productand systems development. One of the major trends in vehicle industry today is the emergence of electricvehicles. One of the main challenges for the electric vehicles is the energy storage capacity whichtogether with powertrain, rolling- and wind resistance losses determines the vehicle range. Therefore,steps are taken in all areas from more efficient electronics to regenerative breaking which have beenwidely adopted, and the hunt for harvesting energy from other areas of the car is on its way. Energydissipated in heat from the shock absorbers can be harvested and some concepts of this have showngood results.The focus of this work was therefore to, based on previous studies, develop and evaluatea new type of shock absorber with integrated energy harvesting.A product development process was used to generate a new or develop a current concept for aregenerative shock absorber. From the product development process a compact hydraulic-electricsystem within the shock absorber were designed and evaluated on its regenerative capabilities with apeak efficiency of 32 percent while also providing an adjustable dampening coefficient. The conceptoffers a compact and affordable design by utilizing a vane pump integrated into the shock absorberpiston.