In the paper authors consider the active suspension of the wheeled vehicle. The proposed controller consists of a sliding mode controller used to roll reduction and linear regulators with quadratic performance index (LQRs) for struts control was shown. The energy consumption optimization was taken into account at the stage of strut controllers synthesis. The studied system is half of the active vehicle suspension using hydraulic actuators to increase the ride comfort and keeping safety. Instead of installing additional actuators in the form of active anti-roll bars, it has been decided to expand the active suspension control algorithm by adding extra functionality that accounts for the roll. The suggested algorithm synthesis method is based on the object decomposition into two subsystems whose controllers can be synthesized separately. Individual suspension struts are controlled by actuators that use the controllers whose parameters have been calculated with the LQR method. The mathematical model of the actuator applied in the work takes into account its nonlinear nature and the dynamics of the servovalve. The simulation tests of the built active suspension control system have been performed. In the proposed solution, the vertical displacements caused by uneven road surface are reduced by controllers related directly to suspension strut actuators.

This paper is focused on the problem of active suspensions of wheeled vehicles with electro-hydraulic actuators. Two dynamic structures first with actuator connected with spring in series and second in parallel – called slow active and full active respectively – were considered. The considerations described in the paper concern physical quarter-vehicle models of suspensions. These models were constructed and installed on a rig for dynamic tests of structures. A laboratory rig enables the simulation of real conditions by disturbing investigated suspension by kinematic excitation. Research was carried out for various algorithms controlling the actuator of the active unit. For evaluation of laboratory research results, comparisons were proposed of frequency response functions and of time curves of instantaneous power taken by the active system from supply, obtained at the same excitation signals. Quantitative aggregated indicators in the form of an averaged coefficient of vibration transmissibility and power required for the active unit to achieve vibration transmissibility function were also proposed.

Laboratory investigations of an active vehicle suspension of an in-series structure of the slow-active type are presented in this paper. The multidimensional model is reduced to a case representing quarter car suspension. Control laws for active vibration reduction systems are usually determined based upon linear models of objects. Active suspensions are characterised by nonlinearity, connected most often with actuating systems and their energetic restrictions. This causes divergences between theoretical quality factors and those determined experimentally. The second essential problem is finding a compromise between opposed quality factors (for example, minimum power requirement and high efficiency of vibration reduction). Thanks to the use of the proper control law in the active vibration reduction system of vehicle suspension, the goal of ensuring a high level of ride comfort, good vehicle handling and incessant contact of the wheels with the road surface with a minimum power requirement may be attained. The authors, in seeking a compromise, determined classical LQR controllers for the proposed quality indicators realising the aims mentioned above. These controllers are determined for a linearised suspension model obtained from identification. Experimental characteristics are determined for all of the suspension control systems.

Use of springs made of an alloy with shape memory (SMA) to shape the dynamic characteristics of a resonance vibration screen is proposed in this paper. These springs change spring constant as a result of temperature changes. Thus it is possible to change their resonance frequency in real time. In the paper a mathematical model of a controlled SMA spring was formulated and its parameters were identified. In the model both the effect of spring coefficient changes and damping changes depending upon alloy temperature and spring vibration frequency were taken into consideration. Experimental investigations of the examined spring and screen physical model were carried out and selected characteristics were also included. The investigations were carried out at the Dynamics and Control of Structures Laboratory of AGH University of Science and Technology. The control law was formulated. Simulation investigations of the mathematical vibration screen model in both open and closed loop systems were made. It was shown that the elaborated control system is robust of vibration mass changes by as much as ±30%.

Smart materials are being applied more and more widely in semi-active vibration reduction systems. Actuators built with their use are characterized by nonlinearities and hysteretic effects. Their omission in mathematical descriptions may lead to deterioration of the vibration reduction systems. For that reason, it is important to take into account these negative phenomena associated with the actuators at the controller synthesis stage. One method for determining the control laws in semi-active vibration reduction systems that is frequently discussed in academic literature is “Clipped-LQR”. The present paper proposes modification of that method to allow inclusion in the controller synthesis of the hysteretic properties and other nonlinearities of an actuator. The method developed was verified by determining the controller for the semi-active suspension of a machine operator’s seat. A magnetorheological damper was used as an actuator. The dynamic properties of the foam covering of the operator’s seat were included in model. Simulation tests were performed on the vibration reduction system and function of vibration transmissibility was determined. The semi-active vibration reduction system tested was compared to a passive system. The considerations presented herein relate to the semi-active suspension of a machine operator’s seat, and the method presented may be applied to other controlled systems with many degrees of freedom.