Optimum Performance Evalution of Reinforced Spring Suspension System Using Nonlinear Analysis Method

Air springs are prevalently used as suspension in train. However, air springs are seldom used in automobiles where they improve stability and comfort by enhancing the impact-relief, breaking, and cornering performance. Thus, this study proposed a new method to analyze air springs and obtained some reliable design parameter which can be utilized in vehicle suspension system in contrast to conventional method. Among air spring types of suspension, this study focused on sleeve type of air spring as an analysis model since it has potential for ameliorating the quality of automobiles, specifically in its stability and comfort improvement by decreasing the shock through rubber sleeve. As a methodology, this study used MARC, as a nonlinear finite element analysis program, in order to find out maximum stress and maximum strain depending on reinforcement cord's angle variation in sleeves. The properties were found through uniaxial tension and pure shear test, and they were developed using Ogden·Foam which is an input program of MARC. As a result, the internal maximum stresses and deformation according to the changes of cord angle are obtained. Also, the results showed that the Young's modulus becomes smaller, then maximum stresses decrease. It is believed that these studies can be contributed in automobile suspension system.