Investigation of the non-linear characteristics of fluid-suspended vehicles

Abstract

Using present linear theory results for a rigid simple plenum fluid-suspension system, it was possible to determine the accuracy of a non-linear model and of analog computer simulation when using small perturbation amplitudes. By increasing the perturbation amplitudes it was possible to show that the range of validity of the linear theory solution increased as the lead time constant increased and also as the lead-to-lag time constant ratio increased. Further increasing of the perturbation amplitude showed that the maximum allowable perturbation amplitude increased as the lead time constant increased and also as the lead-to-lag time constant ratio increased. Increasing the perturbation amplitude beyond the range of validity of the linear theory showed that the peak dimensionless acceleration and the peak dimensionless change in vehicle suspension -guideway clearance decreased.