The modelling and analysis of shock absorbers with stroke-dependent damping

Abstract

In order to obtain the characteristics of a damping force which depends on the amplitude and frequency of the excitation, a modification to the vehicle shock absorber is proposed in this paper. Within the range of small amplitudes, the ' soft' characteristics improve riding comfort, while within the resonance ranges, the increased damping force provides a higher level of ride safety. A nonlinear model of the system is introduced, taking into account various strategies of oil-flow control. Utilising numerical integration methods, the influence of excitation parameters and constructional parameters on the characteristics of the damper is investigated.