RV College of

Engineering
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RV College of
Engineering

Seminar Presentation on

Springs, Damper & Anti-Roll Bar (ARB)

Name : Achal Adiga N Course Name : Vehicle Dynamics

USN : 1RV18ME008 Course No. : 18ME6D5
Dept : Mechanical Engineering Advisor : Prof. Jinka R
Year : 3rd year
RV College of
Engineering Outline of the Presentation Go Go, change
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1. Introduction
2. Aim and Objectives
3. Literature Review
4. Knowledge Creation Technology
5. Methodology
6. Related Work & Result
7. Advances and future challenges
8. Summary
9. References
 RV College of
Engineering Introduction Go change the world

● Suspension system is responsible for smoothing out the ride and keeping the car in control. Specifically, the
suspension system maximizes the friction between the tires and the road to provide steering stability and good
handling. The suspension system also provides comfort for passengers to limiting the impact of particular road
conditions to not only the car, but the passengers riding inside.
● The suspension system is made up of several components, including the chassis, which holds the suspension.
The springs support the vehicle weight and absorb and reduce excess energy from road shocks, along with the
shock absorbers or dampers. Finally, the anti-roll bar(ARB) shifts the movement of the wheels and stabilizes
the car.
● To have a smooth ride, we need to first select the ride frequency of the vehicle and based on that the spring
rates, damping ratios and the requirements of anti-roll bar can be determined.
● The suspension geometry plays an important role while deciding the ride characteristics of the car. The car
must have good geometry (like Camber, Caster, Kingpin axis, Scrub radius, caster trails etc.,)
● Based on all these parameters, the vehicle has to be verified using simulation. As simulation can give
approximate value very close to the the real conditions. Hence, simulating and validating all the parameters is
necessary in the modern world. The simulation can be a mimic of real life scenario or it may be a simulation
of a testing facility.
● Here, A real life scenario is used to verify the suspension setup through motion study simulation in
solidworks.
 RV College of
Engineering Aim and Objectives Go change the world

Aim
⮚ To develop a suspension system of a passenger car and to verify its validity through motion simulation.

Objectives
⮚ To select the suitable type of suspension for an average sized passenger car.
⮚ To design the setup points, and verify them.
⮚ To calculate the Spring rates and Damping values through Ride & Roll rates.
⮚ To design the suitable components of suspension for a selected vehicle.

⮚ To simulate the vehicle in the real world setup using softwares .

 RV College of
Engineering Literature Review Go change the world

⮚ Race Car Vehicle Dynamics by William F. Milliken Jr

The equations for the calculation of Ride and Roll rates, Damping Calculations and empirical graphs for
geometry verification were referred in this book.

⮚ Tech Tip: Springs & Dampers; first 5 parts: OptimumG

⮚ The empirical values of ride frequency and damping ratio was taken from this article. The procedure of
calculating spring rates were also taken from this.

⮚ Understanding your Dampers: A guide by Jim Kasprzak

⮚ The Damping calculations procedure was taken from this article

⮚ Calculating Ideal Spring and Roll Bar Rates by

https://suspensionsecrets.co.uk/calculating-ideal-spring-and-roll-bar-rates-part-1/
https://suspensionsecrets.co.uk/calculating-ideal-spring-and-roll-bar-rates-part-2/
The assumptions for the car were taken from these websites for the tire characteristics required in the calculation.

⮚ Understanding Motion Simulation: Solidworks

The procedure of simulating the car on a real scale model using motion simulation was taken from the guide
given by the Solidworks resource.
 RV College of
Engineering Knowledge Creation Technology Go Go,
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Wingeo
➢ Use of Wingeo for setting up suspension points.
➢ It is an open software with many inbuilt suspension setups and it is use to modify the setup points to obtain
an optimal curve for Camber, Caster, Kingpin axis, Motion Ratio etc.,

Front Rear
 RV College of
Engineering Knowledge Creation Technology Go Go,
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Solidworks
➢ Solidworks is used for designing the model and for simulation
➢ The essential suspension components and the chassis was modelled in the CAD software.
➢ The Motion simulation feature in the solidworks motion was used to simulate the linear motion of the car
with providing inputs like, adhesion coefficient, stiffness, damping coefficient etc.,
 RV College of
Engineering Methodology Go change the world

1. Literature review - many research papers and Race Car Vehicle Dynamics by milliken book was referred
2. Based on the study and available knowledge, Macpherson Suspension type was selected considering Maruti
Suzuki Alto as the reference vehicle.
3. Using ‘Wingeo’ software, the suspension points and other geometrical parameters were set. The feature of
the tool to verify the Ride & Roll characteristics of the setup geometry was used.
4. Then Ride and Roll rates were calculated. Using which, Spring rate, requirements of ARB & Pitch damper
was checked. Later using the above data, Damping parameters were found.
5. Based on the geometry and the calculations, CAD models of suspension system was generated. A rough
model of entire car with a weight close to the real model was made and assembled.
6. Finally, the assembled model was simulated for motion capabilities in Solidworks, using motion study
feature. The car was set up like the real world scenario (like road, bumps, spring rate, damping values,
friction coefficient etc.,) with the exact same materials used in the real world.
 RV College of
Engineering Related Work Go change the world

1. Setup of suspension points for the MacPherson setup. Initially many iterations were made to get the control
points and the related geometry
2. Then the optimal values of suspension strut was found for the model.

Front suspension points of control arms and damper respectively

 RV College of
Engineering Related Work Go change the world

1. The final values of the setup was found after iterating through various parameters and verifying the ride
characteristics with the reference curve given in the reference.
 RV College of
Engineering Related Work Go change the world

1. The final values of the setup was found after iterating through various parameters and verifying the roll
characteristics with the reference curve given in the reference.
 RV College of
Engineering Related Work Go change the world

1. A few assumptions were made before going to the calculation part of the ride and roll rates which would
give the spring rates of the car.
 RV College of
Engineering Related Work Go change the world

1. A few important parameters calculated are shown below which was used to calculate the spring rates of the
vehicle

Ks is spring rate

IR is installation ratio
obtained from geometry

Detailed calculation and the result can be obtained from the calculation sheet attached
 RV College of
Engineering Related Work Go change the world

1. A few important parameters calculated are shown below which was used to calculate the damping values anf
the forces on the damper of the vehicle

Assumptions
Calculations

Detailed calculation and the result can be obtained from the calculation sheet attached
 RV College of
Engineering Related Work Go change the world

The final results obtained in both cases are shown below

➢ It is observed that a spring rate of 45N/mm in the front and 30N/mm in the rear was obtained.
➢ It is also seen that the ARB is not required as the stiffness of the spring is more than the required
stiffness

➢ The Damping ratio of 0.25 was taken as the system was to perform as an underdamped system and to
obtain other optimal values
 RV College of
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➢ The components required for the simulations were designed appropriately based on the the reference car.
➢ It was assembled as shown in the figure below.
➢ The damper was given enough freedom as assumed in during the calculation and the spring was added in
the simulation part.
➢ It was designed accurately to the obtained suspension points. But the chassis was designed roughly to obtain
the weight close to the real car. (Here, Alto)
➢ The road of 600m was modelled to simulate the car as real world scenario with low and high pitched road
humps.
RV College of
Engineering Results Go change the world

Simulation A Simulation B Simulation C Simulation D

➢ The simulation A shows that the vehicle moving at a speed of 2m/s and having no damping system. The
car is seen to oscillate to the ride frequency of the car which is hazardous to the passengers.
➢ Sim. B shows that the car is moving at a speed of 1m/s and with the damping system in the henceforth
simulations. This is the idea speed and system required in the real world.
➢ Sim. C shows the critical value of the speed 2m/s(max) at which the car can move on a bump.
➢ Sim. D shows the car travelling at a speed of 3m/s.
 RV College of
Engineering Summary Go change the world
➢ The suspension points was upto the mark, as the Ride and Roll characteristics given by the software were
matching to the empirical curves.
➢ The spring and damper parameters were calculated based on the RCVD calculations by making suitable
assumptions and the spring rates obtained were close to the specifications of the assumed passenger car.
➢ The simulations proved that the car was similar to the real life model as it showed similar properties as real
world.
➢ The simulation model without damper showed the requirement of the damping system as the model resonated
to the vibration and would have effects on the passengers.
➢ It was observed that the linear velocity of the car had the effect while the car was moving on the bumps. The
car is seen to fly off from the ground as the damper bottoms out rapidly.
➢ It was also observed that the compression and rebound ratio of the damper can be changed to solve the above
problem.
➢ The spring rate of the car was sufficient as the springs could support, the weight of the car itself along with
the passengers’ weight and by giving allowance to the weight transfer and compression/rebound due to the
unevenness in the road.
➢ The damping ratios selected seemed fit to the car as it was observed that the vehicle vibration due to the
unevenness in the road was dampened out.
 RV College of
Engineering Advances in Research Area Go Go, change
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The suspension systems have been used right from the beginning of the era of car. These systems have been
effective and are still being used due to their sustainability and dependability. But, the modern car requires more
than the old setups. There is a need for much effective system which is adaptable all kinds of road conditions and
also it should be suitable for the user selected drive modes.

➢ Use of Airmatic air suspension system for dynamic change of ride height.
➢ Use of Magnetorheological fluid damper to change the damping coefficients based on the operating
conditions. Also, known as DRC system.
➢ Use of Active suspension with the above features is the current trend and the scope for further researches.
➢ New emerging trend on electric vehicles development and its energy generation, has an impact on
suspension system to tap the energy and store it for driving called as regenerative shock absorbers.

By using these features, the spring and damper can be optimized to it max efficiency. The conventional setup
which takes more space can be eliminated by using these system. The main feature of developing these systems is
to give better ride comfort to the passengers and to increase the efficiency of the car by decreasing the drag.
 RV College of
Engineering Future Challenge Go Go, change
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Challenges in the future

➢ Simulation to the accurate values and determining the performance of the vehicle is the biggest challenge
for the futuristic models.
➢ Assumption of data and selection of the appropriate setup.
➢ Obtaining the accurate empirical curves and simulation results.
➢ To estimate the vehicle efficiency and enhance it.
 References Go change the world
RV College of
Engineering

⮚ Race Car Vehicle Dynamics: William F. Milliken Jr.: ISBN: 9781560915263: page no - 579 to 606

⮚ Tech Tip: Springs & Dampers; first 5 parts: OptimumG

⮚ Understanding your Dampers: A guide: Jim Kasprzak: Page 13-21

⮚ Calculating Ideal Spring and Roll Bar Rates by

https://suspensionsecrets.co.uk/calculating-ideal-spring-and-roll-bar-rates-part-1/
https://suspensionsecrets.co.uk/calculating-ideal-spring-and-roll-bar-rates-part-2/

⮚ Understanding Motion Simulation: Solidworks