Semi-active control and simulation of suspension systems for tracked vehicles

A semi-active control of vehicle suspension systems was presented. The vibration of tracked vehicles running on a rough road surface has a bad effect on performance, smoothriding, operation stability and motion safety of vehicles. The acceleration of suspension systems of tracked vehicles is a vital parameter describing the degree of vibration of tracked vehicles. A mechanical model and the corresponding differential equations of motion which consider the mass of wheels were established. And a group of new output variables describing the motions of suspension systems of tracked vehicles was proposed. Then by applying semi-active quadric form of optimizing control theory, the differences of motion states of suspension systems were calculated before and after control under sine road excitation. Parameter analysis and numerical simulation show that the acceleration of suspension systems of tracked vehicles can be well controlled by selecting the suitable controlling parameters.