Vibration Absorber Application, Case Study: Mid-Size Truck Steering Wheel Vibration

In this paper an alternative engineering solution to control vehicle steering wheel vibration is presented. The strategy is focused on the implementation of an effective tuned vibration absorber which also complies with time frame and costs requisites. The vibration levels in this case study are enhanced due resonances in the chassis frame and steering column. The tuned mass damper is basically a suspended mass attached on a vulcanized rubber body, aiming for the customer benefits; this solution can be classified as low cost as well low complexity for implementation. In this case study, a mid-size truck was used as a physical hardware and the data were collected through accelerometers on the steering wheel and other critical components. As a control factor, different tunings on different parts were applied to optimize the auxiliary system performance and robustness. As a final output, the relationship between the tuned mass damper and the acceleration levels on the steering wheel is established. The conclusion of the study presents the optimal results on minimizing the steering wheel vibration through multiple tuned mass damper (TMD) applications, achieving the proposed target levels.