Analysis of Dynamic Stability of Nonlinear Suspension concerning Slowly Varying Sprung Mass.

In this paper, the stability of vehicle concerning the slow-varying sprung mass is analyzed based on two degrees of freedom quarter-car model. A mathematical model of vehicle is established, the nonlinear vibration caused by sprung mass vibration is solved, and frequency curve is obtained. The characteristics of a stable solution and the parameters affecting the stability are analyzed. The numeric solution shows that a slow-varying sprung mass is equivalent to adding a negative damping coefficient to the suspension system, making the effective damping coefficient change from negative to positive. Such changing parameters lead to Hopf bifurcation and a shrinking limit cycle. The simulation results indicate the existence of static as well as dynamic bifurcation and the result is a change in the final stable vibration of the suspension. Even the tiny vibration of the sprung mass will lead to amplitude mutation, leading to the sprung mass instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]