Nonlinear Characteristics’ Shock Absorber Analysis of Suspension System Response

This paper focuses on the numerical modeling of the shock absorbers' dynamic response under road excitations. The nonlinear characteristics of the shock absorber represent a critical aspect of vehicle suspension systems; therefore, their effects on the dynamic system's behavior are thoroughly investigated. The study considers various rheological models of the shock absorber, including linear symmetric, linear asymmetric, nonlinear symmetric, and nonlinear asymmetric configurations. The dynamic behavior of the vehicle is analyzed using a quarter‐car model to investigate the linear and nonlinear damping characteristics. These damping properties are incorporated into a two‐degree‐of‐freedom quarter‐car suspension model. Modeling and simulations are conducted in the MATLAB environment, where a bump‐type road profile is used to excite the system. Performance metrics, such as ride comfort, suspension working space, and road holding, are evaluated for both linear and nonlinear suspension systems based on the deflections of sprung and unsprung masses as well as the damping force. The obtained results indicate that the linear asymmetric shock absorber configuration is more effective in reducing the shock absorber suspension dynamic deflection, enhancing road holding, and maintaining the ride comfort. The systematic assessments of the shock absorber characteristics can guide engineers in selecting the most appropriate damping coefficient. These findings emphasize the importance of accurately capturing the nonlinear behavior of damping for reliable vehicle dynamics analysis.