The usage of the inerter and its studies has greatly developed in recent years as
it offers better performance compared to passive systems and has lower cost and
power consumption than active and semi-active systems. This article focuses on
studying a half-vehicle model to obtain the optimal layout of the mechatronic
inerter, spring, and damper suspension system (ISD) for comfort enhancement with
the aid of the structure-immittance approach, ensuring structural
simplicity.
The mechatronic inerter, which consists of a single capacitance, resistance, and
inductance, is added to a half-vehicle model composed of an inerter, spring, and
damper. All possible layouts are studied to achieve the optimal design layout.
Evaluation criteria such as the performance index, system peak-to-peak value,
and settling time are utilized to assess body acceleration, thereby improving
passenger comfort. Furthermore, the system’s impact on dynamic tire load and
suspension working space under diverse road conditions is analyzed. Theoretical
analyses conducted using MATLAB/Simulink demonstrate that the novel mechatronic
ISD layout significantly enhances body acceleration performance compared to
conventional passive systems, switchable hydraulic ISD systems, and fuzzy
logic-controlled three-setting switchable dampers.
