Evaluation of effectiveness of pneumatic suspensions: Application to liquid sloshing problems

In this investigation, a pneumatic suspension model with orifice damping is developed and used to evaluate the performance of air in comparison coil-spring railroad highway transportation systems. railcars, springs are isolate car from vibrations caused by track irregularities, while trucks, often their rear suspensions allow adjusting characteristics depending on load conditions. The spring formulation validated comparing dynamic stiffness other models reported literature. Different motion scenarios considered quantify effectiveness liquid sloshing problems. To capture large displacements experienced liquid, finite element (FE) absolute nodal coordinate (ANCF) penalty approach fluid/tank contact forces. vehicle models, wheel/rail modelled using nonlinear three-dimensional elastic that accounts for creep forces spin moment, highway-truck model, wheel/ground interaction modeled discrete-element tire model. addition coil springs, paper discusses differences between active suspensions. simulation results show reduces railcar mean vertical acceleration, maximum roll angle, variations acceleration truck tank found be lower when used, resulting reduction force exerted fluid walls.