Ride and handling characteristics of a vehicle equipped with an electromechanical regenerative damper

The main objective of this study is to assess the mechanical performance of an electromechanical damper with energy regeneration capability, which is foreseen to replace the hydraulic damper of a conventional suspension system. The proposed damper includes an electric machine with a motion rectifier mechanism which converts the reciprocating input of the suspension system to a one-directional rotation and an electrical circuit that provides damping characteristics along with an energy regeneration feature. First, a full-vehicle model is developed at which the proposed damper is utilized. Road profiles based on ISO 8608 standard are generated with different road profile resolutions, and the effect of resolution on simulation results is investigated. Second, the full-vehicle model is used for the simulation of vertical dynamics at impulsive (bump type) and standard road excitations. The simulation results are then used for the comfort assessment of the electromechanical damper based on ISO 2631-1 standard. Third, the full-vehicle model is utilized in lateral vehicle dynamics simulations. The model is run in ISO lane change maneuver, and the dynamic response of the vehicle under different operating speeds is analyzed. In conclusion, the performance of the proposed damper is investigated under different dynamic scenarios, and it is shown that this mechanism, which enables energy recuperation, can replace the conventional hydraulic damper of an automotive suspension system.