An air spring model with non-linear damping for vertical motion

Abstract

This paper reports on the dynamic characteristics and a non-linear model of an air spring for vertical motion. The creation of a dynamics model that closely expresses air spring characteristics enables accurate estimation of the dynamic characteristics of vehicles, and contributes to the improvement of ride comfort. Based on the results of characteristics confirmation test on the air spring, a dynamics model of the air spring was examined. It was found that the damping characteristic of the air spring was neither viscous (linear) nor quadratic, but proportional to a velocity exponent of about 1.7.