Sliding mode control based on improved virtual reference model for damping adjustable hydro-pneumatic suspension systems

This paper proposed an improved virtual reference model for semi-active suspension to coordinate the ride comfort and handling stability of a vehicle. The reference model combines the virtues of sky-hook and ground-hook control logic, and the hybrid coefficient is tuned according to the longitudinal and lateral acceleration so as to improve the handling stability especially in high speed condition. The full scale vehicle model considering the heave-pitch-roll motion is presented, and the theory of hydro-pneumatic suspension with continuous adjustable damper is also illustrated. A sliding mode controller is designed to track the states of the reference model. The stability of the sliding mode control strategy is analyzed by means of Lyapunov function approach taking into account of the nonlinear damper characteristics and sprung mass variation of the vehicle. Finally, the performances of the controller are validated under three typical working conditions: the random road, speed bump road and sharp acceleration and braking. The simulation results indicated that, compared with the traditional passive suspension, the proposed control algorithm can offer a good coordination between ride comfort and handling stability of a vehicle. The designed controller could be commercially implemented in semi-active suspension systems.