ISSN: 2277-9655

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IJESRT
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES & RESEARCH
TECHNOLOGY
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SEMI-ACTIVE CONTROL DEVICES USED IN
AUTOMOBILE SUSPENSION
Dr. K. R. Borole*1 & N. P. Sherje2
*1&2
Mechanical Department of Engineering, smt. Kashibai Navale College of Engineering

ABSTRACT
The suspension system plays a main role in vehicle dynamic system. The semi-active suspensions are widely
used in automobile industry with low price and low energy consumption. The design of vehicle suspension is
very important to improve comfortableness and better performance. Suspension systems are classified into three
types those are passive, semi-active, active suspension. This review paper involves comparative study of various
semi-active control devices. Especially, some damper such as magneto-rheological (MR) damper, electro-
rheological (ER) damper and piezoelectric-based friction damper are available in practice.

KEYWORDS: MR fluid, ER fluid, Electric field.

I. INTRODUCTION
There are three main types of vehicle suspensions: passive, semi-active and active suspensions which mainly
improve seat and vehicle ride comfort, vehicle safety, road damage minimization and the overall vehicle
performance [8]. Passive suspensions used in certain frequency range as they are effective only in a certain
frequency range and no on line feedback is used. Active suspensions can improve the performance of the
suspension systems over a wide range of frequency. However, active suspension has the one lack that is require
more power supply that prevents this technique from being used extensively in practice [5].

Compared with active and passive suspension systems, the semi-active suspension system have advantages of
both active and passive suspensions; i.e. it provides good performance compared with passive suspensions and
is economical, safe and does not require higher-power actuators or a large power supply [10]. Semi-active
suspensions were introduced in the early 1970s which can as effective as fully active suspensions in improving
ride quality [1]. Since 1970s, semi-active suspensions have received much preference since they can get better
performance than passive suspensions and consume much less power than active suspensions [10]. A damper
(shock absorber) is a mechanical device designed to smooth out or damp shock impulse, and dissipate kinetic
energy [2]. Especially, some controllable dampers, such as magneto-rheological (MR) dampers, electro-
rheological (ER) dampers, and piezoelectric-based friction dampers are available in practice. Semi-active
suspensions are more practical than ever in engineering awareness [5].

A.Q. Bhatti and H.Varum study the Effect of temperature on the damping properties and characteristics of the
different vibration types. They found semi-active control is the best choice because the results of computer
simulations indicate major improvements in displacement and force damping. Martin Orecny, Stefan Segla,
Robert Hunady, Zelmira Ferkovab study the affectivity of a DA on seat suspend by a MR damper. The effect of
the applied DA is negligible because the MR dampers reduced the maximal amplitudes to values that are almost
unnoticeable for the operator situated on the seats [4]. Avinash B, Shyam Sundar S, K V Gangadharan was
compared damping rate of the different fluid medium of a damper. MR fluid has much good damping properties
compared to the silicon oil and air. Fluid can Increase their damping rate under the influence of magnetic field
[8]. Abroon Jamal Qazi, Umar A. Farooqui, Afzal Khan, Farrukh Mazhar, Ali Fiaz demonstrated successful
application of hybrid artificial intelligence techniques in designing a semi-active suspension system. The
performance of semi-active control devices is much better in comparison with the passive system in terms of
road handling and ride comfort [11]. B. Lafarge, C. Delebarre, S. Grondel, O. Curea, A. Hacal study the design
and analyze piezoelectric vibrations harvesters located in a vehicle suspension for powering standalone systems,
such as wireless transducers. The main advantage of using ambient energy converted by piezoelectric materials
instead of batteries is to decrease the system installation price [12].

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[ICMTEST] Impact Factor: 4.116
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1. Magneto-rheological Damper
MR dampers have found considerable attraction in vibration reduction of vehicle seats and vehicle suspensions
[15]. Magneto-rheological fluids have existed for over fifty years. Now, they are stable and have many attractive
features such as high yield stresses and low viscosity. They have many applications such as automotive
damping. Magneto-Rheological Fluid technology has been successfully established in various automotive
applications like in vehicles seat suspension [9].

2. Electro-rheological Damper:
A variable damper is constructed with ER (Electro- Rheological) fluid. A bilinear optimal control is applied to
regulate the viscosity of the fluid. ER fluid supply an effective control method and provide a practical useful
control system for vibration of vehicles [7].

3. Piezoelectric friction based Damper

Piezoelectric based fiction damper have only recently been introduced to be used in vibration control system.
However, the development of such a device is still in its beginning [13].

II. MAGNETO-RHEOLOGICAL FLUID

Major components of MR fluid are oil and iron particles which vary in percentages according to the applications
and properties. Iron particles are coated with anti-coagulant materials. When this combination of fluid is in
inactive state, it acts as typical natural oil [9]. These magnetic particles may be iron particles that can measure 3-
10 microns in diameter [15]. The particles will be formed into chain-like fibrous structures in the presence of a
high electric field or a magnetic field. When the electric field strength or the magnetic field strength reaches a
certain value, the suspension will be solidified and has high yield stress; conversely, the suspension can be
liquefied once more by removal of the electric field or the magnetic field. The process of change is very quick,
less than a few milliseconds, and can be easily controlled [10]. With absence of applied magnetic field (off
state), MR fluids behave as a Newtonian-fluid. Applying an external magnetic field through the fluid activates
MR fluids, causing the micron-sized particles to form magnetic dipoles along the magnetic lines of force [9].

III. ELECTRO-RHEOLOGICAL FLUID

The principle of ER damper is to utilize the characteristic that the viscosity of fluid changes with voltage
charged on [7]. This fluid contain of micro-powder particles dispersed in a non-conductive liquid. When subject
to an electric field, the viscosity and yield shear stress of the liquid increase with the electric field to such an
extent that the liquid may become plastic, and when electric field is removed, the plastic is quickly turned into
liquid again. Its response time is very less about few milliseconds. It is easy to control, fast to respond, simple to
install and versatile. The controllable rheological nature of this versatile material has been evaluated for a huge
range of application concepts. Hence, ER fluid has a high potentiality for industrial development, such as
clutches, seals, bearings, chucks, hydraulic control valves, couplings, shock absorbers and dampers of vibration
system [14].

ER and MR fluid dampers enable active and semi-active vibration control systems with reaction times in the
range of milliseconds and, additionally, low power requirements when using MR fluids [1].

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Table 1: Typical properties of some electro- and magneto-rheological fluids [1]

Property ER Fluid MR Fluid
response time Milliseconds Milliseconds
plastic viscosity 0.2 to 0.3 Pa. s 0.2 to 0.3 Pa. s
h (at 25 _C)
operable +10 to +90oC - 40 to 150 oC
temperature range (ionic; DC)
-25 to +125oC
(non- ionic; AC)
power supply 2 to 5 kV, 1 to 10 2 to 25 V, 1 to 2
(typical) mA, (2 to 50 A, (2 to 50
watts) watts)
maximum yield 2 to 5 kPa (at 3 to 50 to 100 kPa (at
stress 5 kV/mm) 150 to 250 kA/m)
maximum field ca. 4 kV/mm ca. 250 kA/m
Density 1 to 2 g/cm3 3 to 4 g/cm3

IV. COMPARISON OF ER AND MR FLUID

Due qualitatively similar behaviour phenomenological models of ER and MR fluid devices can mostly be
applied to either material. ER and MR fluid consist of micron-sized polarisable or magnetisable solid particles
dissolved in a non-conducting liquid like mineral or silicone oil [1]. Some properties of electro- and magneto-
rheological fluids are provided in Table 1. Show about the same response time and plastic viscosity h, MR fluids
are less sensitive to impurities, such as water. They have a larger operating temperature range, and they can be
controlled within lower voltage supply. Often iron is used as a solute, the density of MR fluids is significantly
higher than for typical ER suspensions. A greater variety of materials is available for ER fluids, and electric
fields are often more suitable for complex geometries and small dimensions.

V. MR DAMPER MATHEMATICAL MODEL

MR damper technology was originally developed by General Motors for use in the Cadillac and Chevrolet
Corvette in 1998 [2]. The operator seat will be considered as a simple suspended mass. The suspension is
realized by a coil spring and a magneto-rheological (MR) damper [4].

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 ISSN: 2277-9655
[ICMTEST] Impact Factor: 4.116
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The equation of motion of the first investigated model is as follows:
Mx∙∙ + Fs + k ( x+y) = 0.

The magneto-rheological damper used in the study is RD 1097-01 manufactured by Lord Corporation. This type
of damper is appropriate for cases where a high degree of controllability is needed. As is known the MR
dampers have their hysteresis. The generated MR damper force Fs is in this case dependent on two parameters.
The first one is a velocity and the second is an applied electric current on the MR coil [4].

VI. PIEZOELECTRIC FRICTION DAMPER

The friction damper consists of many moving and fixed components as shown in Figure. The moving
components consist of the outer housing and the air bearing. The outer housing also comes in contact with the
friction pads as it vibrates. The friction pads are fixed to both sides of the actuator so that the normal force that
the actuator applies is symmetrical. The normal force provided between the friction pads and the outer housing
induces a frictional load, which retards the motion of the outer housing. Within this damper, there is also a
spring, which connects the moving housing to the stationary base. With the frictional pads not engaged, the air
bearing provides a relatively frictionless contact surface [13].

VII. SKY HOOK CONTROL

Damper of the seat was controlled by the well known sky hook control strategy. The strategy was set as an on-
off control. The current of the damper in the off state is 0 A. In the on state the current is at a maximal set value
0.4 A.

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 ISSN: 2277-9655
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VIII. CONCLUSION
In this paper we have studied the application of semi-active suspension for the vibration reduction in a class of
automotive systems by using various dampers. By theoretical comparison between the above semi-active
suspension system and fixed damping settings it seems that MR damper is more preferable in practical use. As
reduction of vibration using an idealized semi active suspension with a dynamic absorber in magneto-
rheological damper improved the reduction of vibration only for about 7%. ER and MR fluid dampers enable
semi-active vibration control systems with reaction times in the range of milliseconds and, plus, low power
requirements when using MR fluids. So MR damper is more preferable.

IX. REFERENCES
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dampers and study the Effect of temperature on the damping properties, 15 WCEE, Lisboa 2012.
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