Product Development Suspension System

Abstract

A two wheeler is probably the most challenging type of vehicle in terms of sensitivity to suspension tuning, due to comparatively short wheel base and a comparatively high centre of gravity. Moreover, especially for the front suspension the direct link of the handle bar to the front suspension fork makes the driver extremely sensitive to any little modification of the suspension characteristics. A motorcycle s front suspension is therefore a challenging product and a befitting study work for development design activity. In the present work, the product development in the suspension system is aimed at a normal commuter s motorcycle s front wheel suspension i.e. shock absorber. The product suspension is applied to motorcycle is a marketable independent unit named as shock absorber, wherein the motorcycle frame is assumed rigid and with other subassemblies acts as a planer spatial item between front and rear shock absorber as a whole suspension. Thus in isolation a shock absorber is treated as a suspension product and developed accordingly. newlineSuspension systems were introduced on motorcycle in the 1930s and 1940s and since then the numerous architectures and kinematic models have been proposed. The passive suspension systems are cheapest and most common but have fixed characteristics which react to the road surface. To reduce complexity and cost while improving ride and handling the concept of semi active suspension has emerged. In this kind of suspension system, the passive suspension spring is retained, while the damping force in the damper can be modulated in accordance with operating conditions. Most recently, the possible application of ferro fluids to the development of controllable dampers has also attracted considerable interest. The apparent viscosity of this type of fluid and hence its resistance to flow, can be changed. This process is continuous and reversible, and the response is almost instantaneous.