The Effect of Variation in Filling Rate on Hydraulic Retarder Control

Abstract The foundation for developing autonomous driving is the precise regulation of the actuator through the control system. In heavy commercial or agricultural vehicles, hydraulic retarders are a common auxiliary braking system that can prevent catastrophic accidents caused by thermal failure of the main brake system. A working chamber and a control system that work together make up the hydraulic retarder. However, most research on the hydraulic retarder’s control system is focused on the control valve’s performance characteristics. In contrast, the effects of changes in the hydraulic retarder’s working chamber during braking on the control system are neglected. This study employs a mathematical model of a hydraulic retarder based on Rankine-vertex dynamics to investigate the effects of variations in the filling rate of the working chamber on the control system, and validates these findings through bench experiments. The study can provide valuable guidance and references for refining hydraulic retarder control systems’ design and control strategies.