Design and Construction of a Bench Test System for Elastomers Suspension

This study presents the design, construction, and experimental validation of a test bench for characterizing elastomer-based torsion suspensions in light vehicle applications. The system replaces conventional spring-damper assemblies with viscoelastic elements that simultaneously absorb and dissipate road-induced vibrations. We developed a scaled prototype instrumented with an Arduino-based data acquisition system and analyzed results using Octave®. The experimental protocol comprised: (1) tribological tests to identify optimal friction pairs through coefficient of friction (μ) and wear rate measurements, and (2) dynamometric evaluations of torque transmission capacity, power output, and efficiency across gear ratios (2.03-6.34). Results indicate that a steel-steel friction pair under a normal force of 250-300 N achieves optimal performance, delivering an output power of 1706 W (84.8% efficiency) and a torque of 30.25 Nm. Comparative analysis shows this configuration reduces wear rates by 42% compared to aluminum-polyurethane pairs while maintaining comparable μ values (0.32±0.03). The system provides a cost-effective platform (75% cheaper than commercial alternatives) for validating Continuous Torque Transmission (CTT) technologies, with direct applications in electric vehicle drivetrains and engineering education.