Developing a Tubular Type Flux-Switching Permanent Magnet Linear Machine for a Semi-active Suspension Systems

Safety, comfort, range, and energy consumption continue to be highly important for today’s motor vehicles. This study considers suspension systems and investigates a semi-active suspension system based on a tubular flux-switching linear machine. The study optimizes motor performance by defining objective functions that use genetic algorithms to reduce cogging forces. Different configurations of model including block, circular, and cylindrical magnetized have been compared in terms of flux density, mesh size, and manufacturing cost by using magnetostatic analyses. Changes in induced voltage, cogging force, and thrust force according to the current based on 2D transient time analysis data were investigated. Multi-physics analysis of the machine was performed on a quarter-vehicle model using linear analysis, as using a linear machine was more effective for vibration mitigation. A prototype of the proposed block magnet-configurated machine was manufactured, comprising a linear motion system driven by an induction motor with a crankshaft to simulate linear motion of the suspension system. Analysis shows that the designed machine is effective as a semi-active suspension system for vibration and damping.