A novel active suspension control design method is proposed for attenuating vibrations caused by road disturbance inputs in vehicle suspension systems. For the control algorithm, we propose an intelligent PD controller structure that effectively rejects online estimated disturbances. The main theoretical techniques used in this paper consist of an ultra-local model which replaces the mathematical model of quarter car system and a new algebraic estimator of unknown information. The measurement of only input and output variables of the plant is required for achieving the reference tracking task and the cancellation of unmodeled exogenous and endogenous perturbations such as roughness road variation, unpredictable variation of vehicle speed and load variation. The performance and robustness of the proposed active suspension algorithm are compared with ADRC control and LQR control. Numerical results are provided for showing the improvement of passenger comfort criteria with model-free control.

In order to isolate the propagation of unwanted vibrations to passengers and improve vehicle maneuverability, it is common practice to predict road profile roughness in the scope of active suspension design. An algebraic estimator designed for the estimation of the road profile excitation has been investigated in this study based on vehicle dynamics responses. An approximation of road profile excitation by a piecewise constant function has been proposed using the operational calculus method and the differential algebraic theory. The proposed technique allows for the usage of cheap instrumentation with a small number of sensors and employs a straightforward calibration process. Accurate approximation of the road profile was obtained from the measurement of sprung mass and unsprung mass vertical displacements. The performance and robustness of the proposed algebraic predictor is compared with an augmented Kalman estimator. Numerical results are provided to analyze the effectiveness and the limitations of the proposed algorithm for road profile reconstruction. Furthermore, a comparison with real profile was studied.

A novel active suspension control strategy is introduced to improve dynamic response of vehicle suspension systems. The proposed algorithm is a fusion of classical controller design methods together with an online observer and is based on the cancelation of system disturbances. The operational calculus method and the differential algebraic theory are applied to build the observer/compensator that is appended to the classical linear quadratic regulator. An ultra-local model based on linear algebraic rules is presented avoiding the use of a precise mathematical model while guaranteeing the stability of the overall system. Simplicity of implementation, low power demand and significant enhancement of active suspension performance are the observed features of the proposed controller. The numerical simulations illustrate the effectiveness and the robustness against sprung mass variation of the proposed control method compared to proportional–integral–derivative controller, intelligent proportional–derivative controller, linear quadratic regulator and active disturbance rejection—linear quadratic regulator.

Impact dampers are efficient in many industrial applications with a wide range of frequencies. An experimental analysis of the impact damping of spherical balls is investigated to simplify the particle impact damping design and improve the vibration suppression. The objective of the study is to analyze some of the design parameters of impact damper using spherical balls. The experimental investigation consists to test the effect of the ball size for each mass level, the number of balls for each size level and different exciting force levels on vibrations of the main structure. The parametric study provided useful information to understand and optimize Particle Impact Damping design.