Performance Evaluation of Semi-Active Suspension for Passenger Vehicle through Skyhook, Groundhook and Hybrid Control Strategies

Abstract

This paper presents a semi-active vehicle suspension model with four degrees of freedom. The main aim is to investigate the response of the vertical vibration of the random excitation from the road. A passive suspension system and a semi-active suspension system using three different controllers such as skyhook, groundhook and hybrid control are used to assess the suspension performance. The suspension performance parameters are the vertical acceleration, the pitch acceleration, the suspension deflection and the dynamic load of the tire. The acceleration is a measure of ride comfort while the suspension deflection and tyre load are the measures of stability. The model is simulated in MATLAB Simulink and the results for the semi-active and the passive suspensions in frequency and time responses are obtained. It is concluded that the hybrid controlled semi-active vehicle suspension system is provided improvements in the suspension performance parameters compared with skyhook and groundhook. In addition to that the hybrid, skyhook, and groundhook caused better suspension performance compared to passive suspension.