Efficient optimisation of a vehicle suspension system, using a gradient-based approximation method. Part 1. Mathematical modelling

Abstract

Part 1 of this paper proposed a methodology for the efficient determination of gradient information, when optimising a vehicle’s suspension characteristics for ride comfort and handling. The non-linear full vehicle model, and simplified models for gradient information has been discussed, and validated. In this paper, the simplified models presented in Part 1 are used for gradient information simulations. The convergence histories of the optimisation are compared to those obtained when only the full, computationally expensive, vehicle model is used. For illustration of the proposed gradient-based optimisation methodology, up to four design variables are considered in modelling the suspension characteristics. The proposed methodology is found to be an efficient alternative for the optimisation of the vehicle’s suspension characteristics. The undesirable effects associated with noise in the gradient information is effectively reduced, using the simplified models. Substantial benefits are achieved in terms of computational time needed to reach a solution.