Innovating Vibration Control: A Deep Dive into Air Spring Simulation

Introduction

In the realm of vehicular engineering, ensuring comfort and stability is paramount. My master’s thesis, focused on the intricate world of air springs, stands at the forefront of this mission. Air springs, crucial for damping vibrations in a variety of vehicles, from trucks to personal cars, rely on a complex composition of rubber and fabric layers. These components, acting as composite materials, present significant challenges in modeling and simulation—especially when aiming for precision and efficiency. This post unveils my journey through the computational intricacies of air spring materials, using advanced numerical methods to push the boundaries of what’s possible in vibration control technology.

The Challenge of Complexity

Air spring systems, with their rubber-cord composite structures, epitomize complexity. The Finite Element Method (FEM), while powerful, grapples with the computational demands of accurately simulating these materials in 3D. Recognizing the need for a more feasible approach, my thesis embraced numerical homogenization, specifically through a Representative Volume Element (RVE) method. This approach allowed for the effective stiffness characterization of air springs, paving the way for substantial advancements in simulation practices.

A Custom Solution

At the heart of my research lies the development of a custom plugin for the commercial software ABAQUS. This plugin streamlines the application of periodic boundary conditions and automates the homogenization process, marking a significant leap in simulation efficiency. From linear perturbation analysis to the more daunting nonlinear analysis, the plugin facilitated a range of homogenization scenarios, each validating the versatility and robustness of our approach.

Bridging ABAQUS and MATLAB

A unique aspect of my work involves the seamless integration between ABAQUS and MATLAB. This integration enabled the definition and automation of hyper-elastic material models, further enhanced by an innovative use of the Adaptive Moment Estimation (ADAM) optimization algorithm. This algorithm, adapted to consider all stress components simultaneously, allowed for an unprecedented level of accuracy in material model parameterization.

Results and Contributions

The culmination of this research offers homogenized models for air spring bellows, meticulously developed through both strain-based and invariant-based approaches. While each approach has its merits, the invariant-based models, in particular, demonstrated exceptional stability and reliability in data fitting—a testament to the methodological innovations of this thesis.

Conclusion

My master’s thesis not only advances the field of vibration control but also showcases a novel application of numerical homogenization techniques. The tools and methodologies developed promise to enhance the design and simulation of air spring systems, offering a new horizon for engineers seeking to optimize vehicle comfort and stability. Making My Thesis Public

For those interested in delving deeper into my research, I have made my thesis available online. Download my Master’s Thesis here.

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