Shock absorber lateral and impact force measurement using a column-type sensor

Abstract

Abstract A novel method for the lateral and impact force measurement of shock absorbers using a three-component column-type sensor is proposed in this study. The strain gauge configuration and the bridge connection were designed, and the outputs of each designed measuring bridge under both alignment and eccentric loading were theoretically analyzed. Simulations and experimental tests were conducted to validate the measuring bridge output of the theoretical analysis; the results from the theoretical analysis, simulation, and experiments agree well with one another. In accordance with the specifications put forth in the SAE J2570 standard, the designed sensor was calibrated to obtain its performance parameters and calibration coefficients, which were then applied to acquire the lateral and impact force of a shock absorber. The calibration results demonstrate that the maximum nonlinearity and hysteresis were 0.51% and 0.87% (full-scale), respectively, and the sensor had good linearity and weak coupling between dimensional characteristics.