Design And Manufacturing Of Shock Absorber Test Rig For Finding Shock Absorber Mounting Angle

Project Abstract / Summary : Design And Manufacturing Of Shock Absorber Test Rig For Finding Shock Absorber Mounting Angle

Abstract
A suspension system or shock absorber is a mechanical device designed to smooth out or damp shock impulse, and dissipate kinetic energy. The shock absorbers duty is to absorb or dissipate energy. In a vehicle, it reduces the effect of bumps while traveling over rough ground, leading to improved ride quality, and increase in comfort due to substantially reduced amplitude of disturbances. This project focuses on studying the effect of shock-absorber mounting angle on its damping characteristics when provided with different size of bumps.
A shock absorber test rig is developed which is used to find the damping characteristics at different load-speed-bump-angle combination. The manufactured test rig has shown to give an excellent representation of the damper, shock absorber under investigation. Thus the test rig has lead to the output in terms of sinusoidal waveform which is recorded by strip chart recorder. This plotted waveform gives the amplitude of vibrations which is further used for determining damping characteristics. The performance of the damper model is examined as the parameters are varied, and the results are obtained.
Keywords—automotive damper, testing, angle, parameter estimation

Shock Absorber Test Rig:


Why did you choose to work on this project topic : Inspiration and Reason for Selection of The topic:
This is the project team representative Tanmay Dobhada. I was the designer of the suspension system in the 'SAE BAJA' Team of our college.While designing the suspension system for ALL Terrain Vehicle I was not able to determine the exact angle to mount the shock absorber.
Further questions arised:
1. Why in all the two-whellers the shock absorber is mounted at a particular inclined angle?
2. How to know the effect of that shock absorber mounting angle on the parameters like damping characteristics and wheel travel of vehicle?

Approach to the questions.
1. Carried out survey by visiting "GABRIEL INDIA" Chakan plant
2. Read various international papers

Thus on the basis of literature survey carried out we were not able to find any test rig which is able to test shock absorber at inclined angle and determine its characteristics for selection of optimized mounting angle.
Hence, we designed and manufactured a shock absorber test rig.

Importance of this test rig:
1. Able to determine optimized angle of mounting shock absorber
2. Able to provide bumps of different size as experienced on roads.
3. Very useful in industries for initial stages of design

Future Scope:
1. Test rig will be useful in automobile industries for determining shock absorber mounting angle
2. Further after current successful testing plans are to see effect of camber change on shock absorber.

Project Highlights : We have came with a very new concept and idea which can be proved as a very useful creation in automobile suspension industry . As per our survey and observation such kind of testing machine is available no where at current stage . This idea or concept of actually implemented may revolutionize the automobile suspension industry. This testing machine is a very light weight and economically cheap. Also it can be made as a portable testing machine and could be taken to any suspension manufacturing or assembly company. This test rig is very easily accessible to operate and obtain results. This test rig once set up can serve for many years with little maintenance.


Project Category : Mechanical / Automobile / Aeronautical
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Institute/College Name: TSSM Bhivrabai Sawant College of Engineering and Research
City: Pune
State: Maharashtra
Participating Team From: Final Year