Ride comfort optimization with handling constraints over rough terrain

Abstract

Semi-active suspension systems have garnered interest in addressing the trade-off between ride comfort and handling of off-road vehicles over rough terrain. This trade-off is challenging due to the on-road handling demand, with high ground clearance and center of mass complicating the matter further. Control strategies such as skyhook and ground-hook control might not be as effective due to the slow response time of the semi-active suspension system being investigated. This necessitates a different approach to leverage the semi-active suspension to improve vehicle ride comfort while maintaining acceptable handling. This study aims to find parameter settings of a semi-active suspension system for optimal ride comfort with a specified handling performance for a range of speeds and terrains, including rough terrains. Results show that optimal settings are relatively insensitive to road roughness but indeed sensitive to speed. Balancing of front and rear axle load transfer hold potential for improving handling without compromising comfort.