Dynamic Characteristics of a Full Car Fitted with Torsion-Eliminating Hydraulically Interconnected Suspension

In this paper, a torsion-eliminating Hydraulically Interconnected Suspension (THIS) is proposed for the first time to reduce the undesired articulation (warp) stiffness of a two-axis vehicle. The dynamic characteristics of a typical sport utility vehicle (SUV) fitted with the THIS is investigated in the frequency domain. The equations of motion of the coupled mechanical and hydraulic sub-systems are presented. The vehicle basic mechanical sub-system is modeled as a 7 degrees of freedom (DOF) mass-spring-damper system. The hydraulic impedance method is employed to model the fluid sub-system. The relationships between the dynamic fluid states, i.e. pressures and flows, are determined by transfer matrices. Then the mechanical and hydraulic sub-systems are coupled through the mechanical-fluid boundary conditions. Based on fluid hydraulic impedance method, the characteristic equations of this mechanically and hydraulically coupled system are derived with a state vector including the displacements and velocities of mechanical system and the pressure at the mechanical-hydraulic boundary section.