A Review on the Application of Inerters in Vehicle Suspension Systems

The inerter is a device that produces a force proportional to the relative acceleration of both inerter terminals. When combined with springs and dampers in a vehicle suspension system, it forms an inerter–spring–damper (ISD) suspension. This structure shows significant advantages in improving vehicle ride comfort and road friendliness. This paper systematically reviews research progress on ISD suspension. First, the working principle and structural types of the inerter are introduced. Then, an overview of the breakdown phenomena and nonlinear characteristics of ISD suspension is provided, followed by a systematic analysis of ISD suspension structure designs. Next, the control strategies for ISD suspension are discussed, along with their applications in the automotive field. Finally, the paper outlines the main challenges in current inerter research and explores its potential applications in vehicle suspensions. This work can provide a reference for the development of inerter and ISD suspension technologies.