SAE International Cooperative Optimization of Vehicle Ride Comfort and Handling Stability by Integrated Control Strategy 2012-01-0247

Vehicle needs suspension and steering systems with different features to fit different driving conditions. In normal straight driving condition, soft suspension and heavy steering systems are needed to achieve better ride comfort and straight line driving stability; in turning conditions, hard suspension and lightweight steering systems are needed to get better handing stability. The semi-active suspension system with Magneto-Rheological dampers can improve the ride comfort and handling performance of vehicle. Electrical power steering system is developed rapidly due to its portable and flexible operations as well as stable steering performance. In this paper, the features of electrical power steering and semi-active suspension systems have been done a more in-depth study, and an integrated control strategy was proposed to achieve the coordinated control of these two electric control systems arises in order to improve the ride comfort and ensure the steering stability in cornering situation. In a well on the basis of experimental data, the mathematical model of electrical power steering and semi-active suspension systems were adopted to predict the characteristics of these two electric systems. The numerical simulation results show that the integrated control strategy is effective and successful in improving the overall performances such as rapid electrical power steering and good body post regulation. The primary goal of this paper is to create an effective, reliable and safe integrated control strategy for steering and suspension systems that improves the ride comfort as well as handing stability.