Experimental Identification of a Magnetorheological Damper Model to Compare Semi-Active Control Strategies of Vehicle Suspensions

The efficiency of various semiractive control strategies of vehicle suspensions equipped by magnetorheological fluid dampers (MRD) are compared. The parametric model of the damper dynamie behaviour is developed by an inverse method employing genetic algorithms. The model parameters are determined using the measured damping characteristics for a set of constant control current values and harmonie imposed motion. The model is validated on the data measured for variable control current and different types of damper toading. Taking into account the good agreement between predicted and measured data, the obtained model is used to compare by numerical simulation the efficiency of two semi-active control strategies (balance logic, sky-hook) used to improve the vehicle comfort.