The Shock Absorber Handbook

by Dixon, John C.

• ISBN13: 9780470510209
• ISBN10: 047051020X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-10-22
• Publisher: WILEY

Summary

The first edition of The Shock Absorber Handbook was published by the SAE and has sold over 2500 copies to date. It is the only English language book devoted to the subject of automotive dampers. It provides comprehensive coverage of the design, installation and use of the shock absorber. Among the subjects highlighted are fluid dynamics, valve characteristics, damper characteristics, installation and motion ratios, and influence on vehicle ride and handling. Numerous example installations are described and discussed. Testing machines, as well as methods of laboratory testing, are also described in detail. The widely varying characteristics of variable dampers, and the relationship to their design features, are also explained.

Author Biography

Dr John C. Dixon, Eur. Ing., M.A., Ph.D., C.Eng, C.Phys, FIMechE, FRAeS, MinstP, MIET, is a Senior Lecturer at the Open University. He has extensive experience in vehicle dynamics, including shock absorber design and testing for leading racing teams. His previous books include “Tires, Suspension and Handling” and “The High Performance Two Stroke Engine”.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xiii
Acknowledgements	p. xv
Introduction	p. 1
History	p. 1
Types of Friction	p. 15
Damper Configurations	p. 17
Ride-Levelling Dampers	p. 33
Position-Dependent Dampers	p. 35
General Form of the Telescopic Damper	p. 37
Mountings	p. 42
Operating Speeds and Strokes	p. 47
Manufacture	p. 53
Literature Review	p. 54
Vibration Theory	p. 61
Introduction	p. 61
Free Vibration Undamped (1-dof)	p. 61
Free Vibration Damped (1-dof)	p. 63
Forced Vibration Undamped (1-dof)	p. 68
Forced Vibration Damped (1-dof)	p. 71
Coulomb Damping	p. 74
Quadratic Damping	p. 77
Series Stiffness	p. 79
Free Vibration Undamped (2-dof)	p. 85
Free Vibration Damped (2-dof)	p. 85
The Resonant Absorber	p. 86
Damper Models in Ride and Handling	p. 87
End Frequencies	p. 88
Heave and Pitch Undamped 1-dof	p. 90
Heave and Pitch Damped 1-dof	p. 91
Roll Vibration Undamped	p. 93
Roll Vibration Damped	p. 94
Heave-and-Pitch Undamped 2-dof	p. 95
Heave-and-Pitch Damped 2-dof Simplified	p. 100
Heave-and-Pitch Damped 2-dof Full Analysis	p. 102
Ride and Handling	p. 105
Introduction	p. 105
Modelling the Road	p. 105
Ride	p. 111
Time-Domain Ride Analysis	p. 113
Frequency-Domain Ride Analysis	p. 117
Passenger on Seat	p. 119
Wheel Hop	p. 119
Handling	p. 120
Axle Vibrations	p. 124
Steering Vibrations	p. 124
The Ride-Handling Compromise	p. 124
Damper Optimisation	p. 129
Damper Asymmetry	p. 131
Installation	p. 135
Introduction	p. 135
Motion Ratio	p. 135
Displacement Method	p. 137
Velocity Diagrams	p. 138
Computer Evaluation	p. 138
Mechanical Displacement	p. 138
Effect of Motion Ratio	p. 139
Evaluation of Motion Ratio	p. 142
The Rocker	p. 142
The Rigid Arm	p. 148
Double Wishbones	p. 150
Struts	p. 153
Pushrods and Pullrods	p. 155
Motorcycle Front Suspensions	p. 156
Motorcycle Rear Suspensions	p. 160
Solid Axles	p. 165
Dry Scissor Dampers	p. 168
Fluid Mechanics	p. 169
Introduction	p. 169
Properties of Fluids	p. 170
Chemical Properties	p. 171
Density	p. 171
Thermal Expansion	p. 172
Compressibility	p. 172
Viscosity	p. 173
Thermal Capacity	p. 175
Thermal Conductivity	p. 176
Vapour Pressure	p. 176
Gas Density	p. 176
Gas Viscosity	p. 177
Gas Compressibility	p. 177
Gas Absorbability	p. 177
Emulsification	p. 179
Continuity	p. 188
Bernoulli's Equation	p. 188
Fluid Momentum	p. 189
Pipe Flow	p. 191
Velocity Profiles	p. 196
Other Losses	p. 199
The Orifice	p. 203
Combined Orifices	p. 207
Vortices	p. 209
Bingham Flow	p. 212
Liquid-Solid Suspensions	p. 212
ER and MR Fluids	p. 214
Valve Design	p. 217
Introduction	p. 217
Valve Types	p. 219
Disc Valves	p. 220
Rod Valves	p. 221
Spool Valves	p. 222
Shim Valves	p. 223
Valve Characteristics	p. 225
Basic Valve Models	p. 227
Complete Valve Models	p. 230
Solution of Valve Flow	p. 235
Temperature Compensation	p. 237
Position-Sensitive Valves	p. 240
Acceleration-Sensitive Valves	p. 240
Pressure-Rate Valves	p. 243
Frequency-Sensitive Valves	p. 245
Stroke-Sensitive Valves	p. 245
Piezoelectric Valves	p. 249
Double-Acting Shim Valves	p. 249
Rotary Adjustables	p. 250
Bellows Valves	p. 252
Simple Tube Valves	p. 252
Head Valves	p. 257
Multi-Stage Valves	p. 257
Damper Characteristics	p. 259
Introduction	p. 259
Basic Damper Parameters	p. 263
Mechanical Friction	p. 265
Static Forces	p. 268
Piston Free Body Diagram	p. 269
Valve Flow Rates	p. 271
Pressures and Forces	p. 272
Linear Valve Analysis	p. 273
Cavitation	p. 274
Temperature	p. 276
Compressibility	p. 276
Cyclical Characteristics, F(X)	p. 278
Extreme Cyclic Operation	p. 282
Stresses and Strains	p. 283
Damper Jacking	p. 286
Noise	p. 287
Adjustables	p. 289
Introduction	p. 289
The Adjustable Valve	p. 290
Parallel Hole	p. 294
Series Hole	p. 294
Maximum Area	p. 294
Opening Pressure	p. 294
Area Coefficient (Stiffness)	p. 295
Automatic Systems	p. 295
Fast Adaptive Systems	p. 299
Motion Ratio	p. 301
ER and MR Dampers	p. 303
Introduction	p. 303
ER-MR History	p. 303
ER Materials	p. 309
ER Dampers	p. 314
ER Controlled Valve	p. 319
MR Materials	p. 321
MR Dampers	p. 324
Specifying a Damper	p. 333
Introduction	p. 333
End Fittings	p. 334
Length Range	p. 334
F(V) Curve	p. 334
Configuration	p. 334
Diameter	p. 335
Oil Properties	p. 335
Life	p. 335
Cost	p. 335
Testing	p. 337
Introduction	p. 337
Transient Testing	p. 338
Electromechanical Testers	p. 342
Hydraulic Testers	p. 344
Instrumentation	p. 345
Data Processing	p. 346
Sinusoidal Test Theory	p. 348
Test Procedure	p. 352
Triangular Test	p. 354
Other Laboratory Tests	p. 356
On-Road Testing	p. 357
Nomenclature	p. 361
Properties of Air	p. 375
Properties of Water	p. 379
Test Sheets	p. 381
Solution of Algebraic Equations	p. 385
Units	p. 393
Bingham Flow	p. 397
References	p. 401
Index	p. 409
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