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Old 01-28-2013, 11:12 AM   #24
Shankenstein
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While we look forward to RobiSpec's analysis, I'll provide some brain food.

There are multiple systems interacting in a car suspension, with different natural frequencies and damping characteristics. The lowest decade (1-10Hz) is responsible for almost all system dynamics, but all of them should be mentioned. The system looka like dis:


1) Upper system (fix x_2 and w):
Sprung weight + suspension spring. This motion is damped by the suspension damper. These are very low frequencies (0.5-5 Hz).

f_nat1 = constant * sqrt(spring rate / sprung mass)
b_1 = damper constant / sqrt(spring rate / sprung mass)

2) Middle system (fix x_1 and w):
Unsprung weight + suspension + tires. This motion is damped by both the suspension damper and tire damping. These are generally much higher frequencies.

f_nat2 = constant * sqrt([spring rate + tire rate] / unsprung mass)
b_2 = damper constant / sqrt([spring rate + tire rate] / unsprung mass)

3) Lower system (fix x_1 and x_2)
If we assume that all of the car's weight is sent to the ground, the parts involved are the sprung weight + unsprung weight + tires. This motion is damped by the tire, which is generally a very low damping factor (tires bounce).

f_nat3 = constant * sqrt(tire rate / [sprung mass + unsprung mass])
b_3 = tire damping constant / sqrt(tire rate / [sprung mass + unsprung mass])

Due to the low damping capabilities of tires, it's best to let the dampers handle vibration control. For tire dynamics to minimally affect suspension dynamics, a decade of frequency separation should be sufficient.

F_tire > 10 * F_susp
sqrt(tire rate / unsprung mass) > 10 * sqrt(spring rate / sprung mass)
If both values are more than one,
tire rate / unsprung mass > 100 * spring rate / sprung mass
tire rate / spring rate > 100 * unsprung mass / sprung mass

for our example:
6500 / 131 > 100 * 83 / 618
49.6 > 13.43 --> sufficiently separated

I guess I should amend the above statement. Thanks for pointing it out!

Continuing this thought:
If we calculate the max spring rate that can be used without being affected by tire dynamics (at stock pressures):
max front wheel rate = 484 lbs/in
max front spring rate = 526 lbs/in
max rear wheel rate = 422 lbs/in
max rear spring rate is = 548 lbs/in

At autox pressures, max spring rates would be 809 (front) and 843 (rear). In metric, that's 14.2k and 14.8k. Interesting, not that anyone would want to run them that stiff anyways.

Last edited by Shankenstein; 01-30-2013 at 01:55 PM.
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