Passenger Car Air Spring Suspension: Open-System Modeling and Experimental Verification

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">Air suspension systems are increasingly in demand in high-end cars due to their ability to vary ride height based on vehicle loads, road conditions, and speeds. This trend has driven manufacturers to enhance the performance of these systems. Predicting and optimizing the performance of the air spring system for various vehicle loads and conditions has become essential. The performance of an air suspension system is typically measured by its ability to suspend the vehicle within a specified target time. Therefore, it is necessary to model the air spring system—including the air spring, compressor, pneumatic lines, and valves—and integrate it with the vehicle. This modeling helps in predicting performance and optimizing the system. Additionally, a validated system model enables other important calculations, such as sizing the valves, pneumatic hoses, and compressors.</div><div class="htmlview paragraph">In this study, a complete air spring system model has been developed alongside a 15-degrees-of-freedom car chassis to achieve the highest possible accuracy regarding leveling times while maintaining reasonable simulation times. The air spring components were validated with actual measurements, and the system was subsequently validated using an experimental setup. The system’s performance was simulated and then compared with actual vehicle measurements, resulting in simulation outcomes that were comparable to the measurements.</div></div>