The optimum functional characteristics of suspension components, namely, linear/nonlinear spring and nonlinear damper\r\ncharacteristic functions are determined using simple lumped parameter models. A quarter car model is used to represent the front\r\nindependent suspension, and a half car model is used to represent the rear solid axle suspension of a light commercial vehicle.\r\nThe functional shapes of the suspension characteristics used in the optimisation process are based on typical shapes supplied by\r\na car manufacturer. The complexity of a nonlinear function optimisation problem is reduced by scaling it up or down from the\r\naforementioned shape in the optimisation process.Thenonlinear optimised suspension characteristics are first obtained using lower\r\ncomplexity lumped parametermodels. Then, the performance of the optimised suspension units are verified using the higher fidelity\r\nand more realistic Carmaker model. An interactive software module is developed to ease the nonlinear suspension optimisation\r\nprocess using the Matlab Graphical User Interface tool.
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