Transient Dynamics of Semiactive Suspensions with Hybrid Control

The effect of hybrid control technique on transient dynamics of semiactive vehicle suspensions is studied analytically, using a quarter-car model. Hybrid semiactive control refers to a technique that mathematically combines the commonly used skyhook and groundhook control methods. The transient analysis includes an evaluation of the effect of hybrid control on different aspects of the suspension dynamics, vehicle body response, and axle dynamics, due to a step input at the wheel. The damper force–velocity trajectories, vehicle body and axle response, and vehicle body jerk are among the metrics that are examined as part of this analysis. The results of the study show that several tradeoffs exist between the transient response of the vehicle body and the axle. The tradeoffs can be adjusted through changing the hybrid control gain, which shifts the emphasis on skyhook and groundhook controls. The results further indicate that, in balance, hybrid control can be more effective in controlling suspension dynamics than either skyhook or groundhook control.