RESEARCH SEMINAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION

Suspension is the term given to the system of springs shock

absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension
systems serve a dual purpose contributing to the car's road holding
handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and
keeping vehicle occupants comfortable and reasonably well isolated
from road noise, bumps, and vibrations, etc. These goals are generally at
odds, so the tuning of suspensions involves finding the right
compromise. It is important for the suspension to keep the road wheel in
contact with the road surface as much as possible because all the forces
acting on the vehicle do so through the contact patches of the tires. The
suspension also protects the vehicle itself and any cargo or luggage from
damage and wear. The design of front and rear suspension of a car may
be different.

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ABSTRACT

A new approach to constraint-based path selection for dynamic

routing and wavelength allocation in optical Air ride suspension carries
the load on each axle with a pressurized air bag much like a high
pressure balloon. Air ride suspension systems have been in common use
for over forty years and have proven to provide the smoothest and most
shock-free ride of any known vehicle suspension system. Modern air
bags are constructed using the same methods as a tire by using high
strength cords which are then encapsulated in rubber. These units are
very durable in service and have a proven life of many years .In addition
to providing extremely smooth ride quality, air ride suspension also
provides other important features. First, the system automatically adjusts
air pressure in the air bag so that the trailer always rides at the same
height, whether lightly loaded or heavily loaded. This allows the
suspension system to always provide the maximum usable wheel travel
independent of trailer load. In addition, the higher air bag pressure
associated with higher trailer loads automatically provides a stiffer
suspension which is exactly what is required for a smooth ride. The
lower air bag pressure for lightly loaded conditions automatically
provides for a softer suspension, thus providing the same ride quality for
all trailer loading conditions. Since each axle is independently supported
by its own air bag, the air ride suspension is a truly, fully independent
suspension system. The automatic control of the air bag pressure is
accomplished by a solid state electronic control system specifically
designed and packaged for vehicle use.

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HISTORY

A suspension system comprises springs, shock absorbers and

linkages. This suspension connects an automobile to its wheels. The
suspension systems not only help in the proper functioning of the car's
handling and braking, but also keep vehicle occupants comfortable and
make your drive smooth and pleasant. It also protects the vehicle from
wear and tear. To know about the suspension system, one needs to know
about the spring rate or suspension rate.
The air suspension system is an air-operated, microprocessor
controlled suspension system. This system replaces the conventional coil
spring suspension and provides automatic front and rear load leveling.
The 4 air springs, made of rubber and plastic, support the vehicle load at
the front and rear wheels.
An air suspension supports the vehicle on the axles with an
arrangement of air bags instead of some type of steel spring, leaf or coil,
or some type of torsion spring arrangement. The air bags are sometimes
referred to as air springs or bellows

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WORKING

An air-suspension system is used to replace coil springs in an

automobile, traditionally used to absorb shock and provide a smoother
ride, with air springs made of heavy-duty rubber. They use onboard
compressors, air bags, solenoids, valves and lines to balance heavy
payloads and improve a vehicle's ride. As of 2014, air-suspension
systems offer distinct advantages over metal springs, including instant
tuning, improved suspension and adaptability to different driving
situations.
In newer vehicles, this automotive technology offers more control
and easier installation than conventional springs. In air-suspension
systems, air bags replace coil springs and the airbag is inflated to the
appropriate ride height. The system uses an onboard compressor, which
is an electric pump, to feed air to the bags through multiple lines. The
compressor pulls outside air into the pump, compresses the air and
transfers it to the bags. Valves are used in the system to allow air to
enter different parts of the system. Valves play a major role in
controlling the direction of the air.
Solenoids are useful for inflating and venting the airbags in
electronically controlled systems. When the system makes adjustments
for different driving conditions, the solenoids open and close to change
the amount of air entering each airbag. In electronic systems, there is an
electronic control module that controls the analog on/off controls,
manages ride height and monitors pressure.

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RESEARCH SEMINAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

Figure.1

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RESEARCH SEMINAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

COMPONENTS

 Air compressor: Simpler compressor systems rely on the compressor

itself to maintain, increase or decrease pressure. More advanced
systems add an air tank to maintain pressure and provide an even
transition between pressures. Compressors can be activated manually
or automatically, and controlled solely by the driver, automatically
through an electronic system, or a combination of both.

 Vulcanized rubber air spring: a vulcanized rubber air spring at

each wheel an air compressor, which is typically located in the trunk
(boot) or under the bonnet a compressed air storage tank may be
included for rapid “kneel”, storing air at ~150psi (1000 kPa),
note(1psi=6.89kPa)

 Air storage tank: a valve block which routes air from the storage
tank to the four air springs via a series of solenoids, valves and many
o -rings. Air tanks are vessels that hold compressed air that is then
used to raise your vehicle. Air tanks come in many shapes and sizes
but choosing the right one comes down to your vehicle's needs. If you
have a heavier vehicle, a slightly larger tank might not be a bad idea.
Sometimes space is an issue so a smaller air tank must be used.
Running multiple smaller tanks is also a popular option.

 Solenoid valve: Solenoids are used in electronically-controlled

systems to fill and vent each air bag. As the system adjusts for
different conditions, it commands each solenoid to open or close,
changing the amount of air in each of the bags.

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 Air pipes: a series of 6 mm air pipes which channel air throughout

the system (mainly from the storage tank to the air springs via the
valve block).

 Height sensors: height sensors ideally on all 4 vehicle corners based,

typically, on resistive contact sensing to give an absolute height
reference for each corner of the vehicle. Based on the output of the
sensor, the Engine Control Unit (ECU) makes the compressor
determine whether to fill or release air from the air bags. The ride
height sensor sends signals to the ECU, which causes the suspension
to react while driving over bumps or due to heavy loads on the
vehicle to provide a smoother ride. It is usually fitted to the frame of
the automobile or to components of the suspension system.

 ECU: The electronic control unit (ECU) used in today’s cars and
trucks is used to control the engine and other components’ functions.
An ECU is a computer with internal pre-programmed and
programmable computer chips that is not much different from a home
computer or laptop. The vehicle’s engine computer ECU is used to
operate the engine by using input sensors and output components to
control all engine functions. The ECU needs inputs from vehicle
sensors like the crankshaft sensor and camshaft sensors to compute
the information using a program that has been stored in the ECU on a
programmable memory chip.

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RESEARCH SEMINAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

Common air suspension problems

 Air bag or air strut failure:It is usually caused by wet rust, due to
old age, or moisture within the air system that damages it from the
inside. Air ride suspension parts may fail because rubber dries out.
Punctures to the air bag may be caused from debris on the road.
With custom applications, improper installation may cause the air
bags to rub against the vehicle's frame or other surrounding parts,
damaging it.

 Air line failure:It is a failure of the tubing which connects the air
bags or struts to the rest of the air system, and is typically DOT-
approved nylon air brake line. This usually occurs when the air
lines, which must be routed to the air bags through the chassis of
the vehicle, rub against a sharp edge of a chassis member or a
moving suspension component, causing a hole to form. It does
occur in harsh off-road conditions but it still not common if
correctly installed.

 Air fitting failure:It usually occurs when they are first fitted or
very rarely in use. Cheap low quality components tend to be very
unreliable. Air fittings are used to connect components such as
bags, valves, and solenoids to the airline that transfers the air. They
are screwed into the component and for the most part push-in or
push-to-fit DOT line is then inserted into the fitting.

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RESEARCH SEMINAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

 Compressor failure:It is primarily due to leaking air springs or air

struts. The compressor will burn out trying to maintain the correct
air pressure in a leaking air system. Compressor burnout may also
be caused by moisture from within the air system coming into
contact with its electronic parts. This is far more likely to occur
with low specification compressors with insufficient duty cycle
which are often purchased due to low cost. For redundancy in the
system two compressors are often a better option.

 Dryer failure: the dryer, which functions to remove moisture from

the air system, eventually becomes saturated and unable to perform
that function. This causes moisture to build up in the system and
can result in damaged air springs and/or a burned out compressor.

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RESEARCH SEMINAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

Advantages
 Excellent suspension & passengers safety
 Fully automatic level control
 Good handling
 Shields vehicle from damage
 Keep tires pressed firmly to ground
 Easy to service
 Increase life of vehicle

DISADVANTAGES
 High initial cost
 Occupies more space
 Maintenance cost is more
 Due to lack of friction damping is necessary due to road shock

APPLICATIONS
 Generally used in premium luxury cars
 Trucks , coaches & buses
 Modern motorbike

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RESEARCH SEMINAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

CONCLUSION

Air suspension is today mainly feature for luxury vehicle. It offers

a lot of feature for compact class. Cost or price level will be more
attractive. Integration & smart design is key. The Air Suspension System
has ability to change the load carrying capacity simply by changing the
air pressure. From the whole discussion in air suspension system, it is
observed that the system is like a white blood cell. As white blood cell
provides energy to our body to fight against diseases or viruses which
try to destroy or try to decrease our life, in the similar way air
suspension system provides the energy to a vehicle to protect itself from
damaging, increasing life of the vehicle, increases the handing, increases
comfort of passengers and many more.

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RESEARCH SEMINAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

CASE STUDY

ABSTRACT
Increased competition on the automotive market has forced
companies to research alternative strategies to be adopted in suspension
systems. In order to improve handling and comfort performance, newer
and newer systems are being developed. This paper deals with a case
study of one of the suspension systems used in present days. AUDI A8
is being used for the analysis of this suspension system. From this
analysis the findings obtained are, this adaptive air suspension can offer
smooth and comfort ride of the vehicle, passenger comfort level is
highly maintained without any failure, frame height of the vehicle is
maintained, increase in stiffness of the system due to increase in
deflection, less chances of failure of the system, helps in reducing the
load while the vehicle is in motion.

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RESEARCH SEMINAR AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION

The inventions for new machinery and vehicles has increased the
need for mechanical elements that are able to eliminate undesired
vibrations. All the vehicle suspensions are designed with the same end,
i.e., to filter out the vibrations coming from the tyres which's in touch
with roads. One such suspension system is the air suspension having
certain advantages over the classical mechanical suspension systems is
to reduce road wear and increasing passenger comfort. It is well known
that air suspensions can provide both a soft ride at lesser speed on good
roads and Stability and control on rough roads at high speed. Moreover,
the vehicle’s chassis height is adjusted to suit the particular conditions
of any given trip.

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LITERATURE REVIEW
The suspension system of a vehicle refers to the group of
mechanical components that connect the wheels to the frame or body.
Many engineering effort has gone into the design of suspension systems
because of an countless effort to improve vehicle ride and handling
along with the passenger safety and comfort. The suspension system
consisted merely of a beam that extended across the width of the vehicle.
The front wheels were mounted to the axle ends and the axle was rotated
to provide steering. In early times, the automobiles used the one piece
axle design in which, it was fix mounted to the vehicle through springs
to provide the softening of shock loads from road inaccuracies.

CONCLUSION
Establishing a unified air suspension system dynamics model and
control system development platform has important application value for
improving the overall performance of the air suspension system. The
research idea is theoretical analysis of the adaptive air suspension
system used in various business class automobiles. Design of adequate
suspension system is highly a difficult control problem due to the
complicated relationship between its components and parameters. There
are two criteria of good vehicle suspension performance: the first one is
typically their ability to provide good road handling and the other one is
to guarantee the passenger comfort. The main disturbance affecting
these two criteria is terrain irregularities.

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REFERENCES

[1] Bolton, W. (2008). Mechatronics – electronic control systems in

mechanical and electrical engineering, 4th ed. Pearson Prentice Hall.
[2] E. Esmailzadeh,” Optimization of pneumatic vibration isolation
system for vehicle suspension”, Journal of Mechanical Design 100,
1978, pp. 500–506.
[3] R.B. Gupta, “Textbook of Automobile Engineering”, Tech India
Publication Series, Eighth Edition, 2013, pp. 34- 10 to 11

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