Advanced vehicular technologies including hybridization have been identified as the
focuses of the University of Toledo University Transportation Center (UT-UTC) in the
effort to increase fuel efficiency and reduce polluting emissions. The proven advantages
of the hybrid vehicles or variable cylinder management also comes with challenging
problem of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). This issue has to be properly addressed
in order for the technologies to quickly enter the market or be widely applied.
The NVH in modern vehicles is not conventional since it involves multiple power sources
working in different modes and the switching among them. This feature has created
vibration in all forms containing shock and harmonic vibration in very wide range
of frequencies and random excitations as well. It has been proven that the passive
vibration isolators, e.g. elastomeric and hydraulic, are not efficient in modern vehicles.
Active mounts such as the one installed in the Honda Odyssey are effective in all
conditions, but they are expensive and can lead to stability problems. A great amount
of research has been done and stated that the semi-active devices are preferred thanks
to their effectiveness and affordability.
In the previous phases, this project has completed the analytical model and fabrication
of a single-axis semi-active magnetorheological (MR) fluid mount. This mount utilizes the MR fluid functioning in two modes which are flow and squeeze
mode. The modes can operate individually or simultaneously without interfering with
each other. The simulation and experiments conducted on the mount have shown promising
results. This proposal is about the continuation of the research to develop a suitable controller
for the mount. To this end a control system will be designed and tested. The controller will have
adaptive and optimal characteristics so that the mount will be able to respond quickly
and efficiently in all possible conditions of the operation of the vehicle. This way
the mount will provide a controlled shock and vibration isolation with minimal use
of energy.
The controller will complete the semi-active MR mount design and make it ready for
commercialization. The mount, together with its intelligent control, will solve the
NVH problem induced by the power-generating components and speed up the commercialization
process of the advanced vehicular technologies.
