Simplified and advanced models of a valve system used in shock absorbers

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to develop a model of a valve system applicable for strain and stress prediction. Design/methodology/approach: The analytical and numerical approaches are presented to provide an overview for available methods and prediction accuracy. Findings: An equivalent numerical model of a disc valve system of different complexity was developed and discussed. Research limitations/implications: It is important to provide a model functionality allowing for calculation of disc stacks supported by a coil spring and stack settings having the opening limiter. Disc stack stress and opening characteristics vs. applied pressure may be determined with simplified analytically derived model and full 2D model including almost all significant forces and moments in a stack of circular plates. An advantage of a simplified disc stack model is possibility of its implementation in an environment supporting matrix operations, e.g. Matlab. Practical implications: A valve system has to withstand the cyclic pressure load across the piston. The number of discs, their diameters and thicknesses directly affect durability of a valve system. Damper force and valve durability expressed in life-cycles are the optimization criteria considering during selection and tuning of a valve system. Originality/value: A new valve system was developed in two versions, i.e. simplified and advanced. The model allows durability prediction at the design stage reducing the testing costs of low-performance valve systems.