Abstract
Analogue computer studies of an automobile suspension on a simulated random road show that optimum ride and road holding can be achieved with linear damping for all magnitudes of road roughness. Unsymmetrical damping, however, provides better isolation from large bumps and obstacles at the expense of only very moderate increases in the mean-squared values for random inputs. Optimum values for the ratio of bump to rebound damping rates are obtained by use of an integral-square criterion. For a linear system the effects of the seat dynamics and road power spectrum characteristics are illustrated using the results of a digital computer program. The influence of the non-linearities on mean-square values is analysed theoretically and the statistical describing function method applied.
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