Optimal Vehicle Suspensions: A System-Level Study of Potential Benefits and Limitations

Fundamental ride and handling aspects of active and semi-active suspensions are presented in a systematic way starting with simple vehicle models as basic building blocks. Optimal, mostly Linear-Quadratic (H2), principles are used to gradually reveal and explore key system characteristics where each additional model Degree-of-Freedom (DoF) brings new insight into potential system benefits and limitations. The chapter concludes with practical considerations and examples including some that go beyond the more traditional ride and handling benefits.