Semiactive Suspension of the Truck with Preview Control

The present article looks into possibilities for using drive axle semiactive suspension systems of a tractor in a tractor-semitrailer combination. The problem has been studied by means of computer-aided simulation, with ADAMS/Car MSC software. The shock absorbers of the semiactive suspension are provided with closed-loop preview control. Thus, the steering front axle of the tractor functions as a sensor to register road irregularities that the wheels of the drive axle should overcome. There has been suggested a simplified control logic for the semiactive suspension, being based on the outcomes of the study of the closed-loop preview control algorithm. When used for the drive axle of the tractor in the tractor-trailer combination, the semiactive suspension has been demonstrated to reduce the coefficient of variation of dynamic vertical forces on road pavement by 5,5 to 7%, in comparison with the conventional suspension types.