The working principle of shock absorbers
The main responsibility of shock absorbers is to suppress the shock generated when the spring rebounds after absorbing vibrations and to buffer the impact from the road. When a vehicle is driving on an uneven road surface, the wheels jump up and down, and the spring is deformed under pressure to absorb part of the energy. But the spring will rebound, and this is where shock absorbers need to intervene. Through its internal special structure, the shock absorber converts the kinetic energy of the spring's rebound into heat energy and dissipates it, thereby reducing shock. For example, the piston in a hydraulic shock absorber moves in the oil, and the oil generates resistance through specific small holes, consuming the spring's rebound energy to achieve the shock absorption effect.
Analysis of common shock absorber types
1. Hydraulic shock absorber: The most common type, mainly composed of a spring, piston, and oil storage cylinder. When it works, the piston moves in a cylinder filled with oil. The oil is forced to pass through narrow pores, generating viscous resistance that hinders the movement of the piston and then consumes vibration energy. This shock absorber has a simple structure and low cost and is widely used in various vehicles. It can effectively deal with road bumps during daily driving.
2. Gas shock absorber: Using gas as the working medium, it realizes damping function by relying on the compression and expansion of gas. Compared with hydraulic shock absorbers, gas shock absorbers are more sensitive in response and can withstand greater pressure and impact. They are often used in heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and engineering vehicles. Because they need to deal with complex road conditions and heavy loads, gas shock absorbers can provide more stable support and shock absorption effects. They are also applied in the field of high-performance cars and can meet the strict requirements of the suspension system when the vehicle is driving at high speed.
3. Electromagnetic shock absorber: Representing the cutting-edge technology of shock absorbers, it uses electromagnetic force to adjust the damping force. Through sensors, information such as road conditions and vehicle driving status is monitored in real time and transmitted to the electronic control unit (ECU). According to these data, the ECU precisely controls the current in the electromagnetic shock absorber, changes the magnitude of the electromagnetic force, and then instantly adjusts the damping of the shock absorber. Its response speed is extremely fast, up to 1000Hz, five times faster than traditional shock absorbers. It can perfectly balance comfort and stability. Even if an obstacle is suddenly encountered while driving at high speed, it can ensure the stability of the vehicle body. It is mostly used in high-end luxury cars and high-performance sports cars.
4. Magnetorheological shock absorber: It uses the change in the properties of magnetorheological fluid in a magnetic field to adjust the damping force. Magnetorheological fluid is composed of synthetic hydrocarbons and magnetic particles. Without a magnetic field, the magnetorheological fluid is in a liquid state and can flow freely. After a magnetic field is applied, the arrangement of magnetic particles changes, and the viscosity of the liquid increases instantly, generating damping force. By adjusting the current to control the magnetic field strength, the damping force can be precisely adjusted. This shock absorber has a rapid response and high adjustability and is widely used in high-performance cars and some vehicles with extremely high requirements for suspension performance.
