Abstract
A vibration suppression system is essential for improving the dynamic performance of the hosting structure it is connected to. This system typically utilises a network comprising various elements, such as springs, dampers and inerters. While several designmethods have been proposed, there is still a challenge in systematically and expeditiously determining the optimal network configuration for this system with a pre-determined level of complexity, particularly in terms of the number of the elements involved.
To address this challenge, this thesis develops a novel design methodology based on graph theory, which enables the enumeration of all possible network configurations with any pre-determined number of each element type and facilitates the identification of
the optimal configuration. This methodology can accommodate various elements from different domains and is not limited by the number of terminals in the network. A programmatic implementation has also been developed to enhance its practicality in real-world applications. The generality of this methodology renders it applicable across diverse industrial sectors, providing designers with a tool to promptly pinpoint the optimal network configuration that achieves desired performance with minimal complexity.
Within this methodology, three approaches have been developed and applied to the design of a vehicle suspension system in this thesis. Firstly, the approach for designing a two-terminal passive suspension is introduced, where an optimal trade-off between
improved dynamic performance and increased network complexity is determined. This thesis then extends this approach to the design of a three-terminal hydro-pneumatic network for shock absorbers, achieving a significant 19.4% improvement in a specific
metric of ride comfort compared to conventional designs. Lastly, this thesis presents an approach for designing a two-terminal passive-active-combined mechatronic suspension. The results indicate that, compared to the benchmark combined suspension, there is a notable improvement in the trade-off between ride comfort and required active force. Specifically, the identified design achieves the same ride comfort with an active force that is 50% smaller, and improves ride comfort by 16% with the same active force level.
| Date of Award | 23 Jan 2024 |
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| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Jason Zheng Jiang (Supervisor), Steve G Burrow (Supervisor), Simon A Neild (Supervisor) & Andrew T Conn (Supervisor) |