A method to evaluate stiffness and damping parameters of cabin suspension system for heavy truck

Both stiffness and damping parameters of cabin suspension have important influences on the dynamic performance of cabin system for heavy truck. To theoretically study ride comfort of cabin system, the stiffness and damping parameter values of cabin suspension are often required. At present, there is no convenient method unless by bench test to accurately obtain all the stiffness and damping parameters; however, the cost of bench test is relatively high and inconvenient. In this article, according to the real cabin system of a heavy truck, a 3 degree-of-freedom cabin system linear model was presented and its vibration equations were built. By the tested cabin suspension excitations and seat acceleration response, based on curve fitting method, a stiffness and damping parameter identification mathematical model was established. With a practical example of cabin system, the stiffness and damping parameters were identified and validated by bench test. The results show that the built model and the proposed method are workable and lay a good foundation for the theoretical analysis and/or optimal design of cabin suspension to improve ride comfort.