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APRIL 2023 SESSION
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CONTROL ENGINEERING
(BME 3033/BEE3093)

STUDENT NAME : HAZEM ELHADI ABUSHAREB

MATRIC NO :BEEE20106677
SUBMISSION DATE :21/7/2023
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GENERAL INSTRUCTION

THIS PAPER CONTAINS SEVEN PRINTED PAGES (6) INCLUDING THE FRONT PAGE.
THIS PAPER CONTRIBUTES TO 20% OF THE FINAL MARKS.

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Assignment description
 1. TASKS:
PLM Company is an automotive vendor company that provided services to design a semi-
active suspension system for MNB vehicle brand. As production engineer, you are
required to design a new semi-active damper for crashworthiness system in a new vehicle
to reduce the crash impact to the driver. In preliminary stage you as production
engineering need to provide a prediction results to present to your client. By providing a
part of crashworthiness in vehicle which is single degree of freedom (SDOF) as in Figure
1, you need to evaluate the performance of the proposed suspension system by using
MATLAB Simulink software and provide the evidence results compared to passive
suspension system. You are also required to design a control system for a semi-active
suspension for the vehicle. Then, you are required to provide technical report as followed
by customer needs:

Figure 1: Crashworthiness system of passenger vehicle

1. Classify the type of control loop system that able to implement for suspension system.
Why? Justify your answer.

The type of control loop system that can be implemented for the suspension system is a
Closed-Loop Control System. A closed-loop control system uses feedback to continuously
monitor the system's output and adjust the control action to achieve a desired response. In the
context of a suspension system, the control system continuously measures the vehicle's
behavior and adjusts the damping characteristics of the damper in real-time to optimize the
response.

Justification:

A closed-loop control system is suitable for a suspension system for the following reasons:

Real-time Adaptation: A suspension system needs to adapt to varying road conditions and
driving scenarios. By utilizing feedback from sensors, a closed-loop control system can adjust
the damping characteristics of the damper on-the-fly to optimize ride comfort and vehicle
stability.

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Enhanced Performance: With feedback, the control system can continually monitor the
vehicle's behavior and respond to changes quickly and accurately, leading to improved
performance compared to open-loop or passive systems.

Stability and Safety: Closed-loop control ensures that the suspension system remains stable
and maintains the vehicle's safety by actively damping unwanted vibrations and disturbances.

Robustness: A closed-loop control system is inherently more robust against external

disturbances and uncertainties compared to open-loop systems, making it well-suited for the
dynamic and uncertain environment of a vehicle suspension.

2. From the diagram in Figure 1, prepare mathematical equation for crash impact model
and build a model that includes passive damper system in MATLAB Simulink. The
parameters of quarter car model are as listed below.

Table 1: Parameter
Parameter Value Unit
m XY0 Kg
k YY 000 N/m
c ZZ 00 N-s/M

*Important notes: the value of XYZ is obtained from the last 3 digits of your matric
number.
INPUT

Where:

x(t) is the displacement of the sprung mass (in meters) with respect to time t.
x'(t) is the velocity of the sprung mass (in meters per second) with respect to time t.
x''(t) is the acceleration of the sprung mass (in meters per second squared) with
respect to time t.
F(t) is the external force (in Newtons) applied to the sprung mass due to the crash
impact at time t.
OUTPUT

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 3. Based on the simulation analysis, analyze the response of the passive damper system
for this crash impact model.
To analyze the response of the passive damper system for the crash impact model, we will
perform simulations in MATLAB Simulink. The simulation will capture the displacement,
velocity, and acceleration of the sprung mass over time under the influence of the crash
impact.

The simulation results will provide insights into the passive damper's performance in
absorbing and dissipating energy during the crash impact event. We will analyze the peak
displacements and accelerations experienced by the sprung mass and evaluate the overall
crashworthiness of the system.

4. Develop a control system for a semi-active damper system and compare its
performance against passive damper system. Diagnose with discussion based on the
results obtained.

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 To develop a control system for the semi-active damper, we will design a controller
that adjusts the damping coefficient of the damper based on feedback from various
sensors, such as accelerometers, vehicle speed, and suspension deflection sensors.

The control algorithm will be designed to optimize the suspension response to the
crash impact, minimizing the impact on the driver while maintaining vehicle stability.
Various control strategies like Skyhook, Ground hook, or Hybrid control can be
implemented and compared for their effectiveness in improving crashworthiness.

The performance of the semi-active damper system will be compared against the
passive damper system based on the same crash impact model. The comparison will
involve analyzing the simulation results for both systems, considering parameters
such as peak displacements, accelerations, and energy absorption.

Summary: From this assignment, the students need to provide a discussion for comparing the
characteristic performance between passive and semi-active damper system for crash impact
model. Each student will provide their own result and the discussion should be related with
parameters obtained.

Discussion based on Results Obtained

The discussion will revolve around the comparison of the characteristic performance
between the passive and semi-active damper systems for the crash impact model. Points
to be addressed in the discussion include:

Crash Impact Mitigation: Evaluate how both systems perform in reducing the crash
impact on the driver, focusing on peak displacements and accelerations. Compare which
system provides better protection to the vehicle occupants.

Energy Absorption: Analyze the energy absorption capabilities of both systems during
the crash event. Determine which system can better dissipate and absorb energy, leading
to improved crashworthiness.

Adaptability and Responsiveness: Discuss how the semi-active damper system's real-
time adjustability benefits crashworthiness compared to the fixed damping of the passive
system. Highlight scenarios where the semi-active system outperforms the passive system
due to its adaptability to changing conditions.

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Stability and Safety: Assess the stability and safety of both systems under the crash
impact model. Identify any potential issues or advantages related to system stability and
safety during a crash event.

Parameter Sensitivity: Explore how variations in the parameters (mass, stiffness,

damping) affect the performance of both damper systems. Discuss how the semi-active
system's adaptability can handle variations in these parameters more effectively.

Overall Performance: Summarize the findings and provide a conclusive statement on

which damper system (passive or semi-active) is superior in terms of crashworthiness
based on the results obtained.