Question 1

What is the damping ratio and why does it matter for car suspensions?

Accepted Answer

The damping ratio zeta equals b divided by 2 times the square root of m times k. When zeta is less than 1 the suspension is underdamped and the car bounces after a bump. When zeta equals 1 it is critically damped and settles fastest without bouncing. When zeta is greater than 1 it is overdamped and returns slowly. Real cars typically use zeta between 0.2 and 0.7. Comfort sedans use 0.2 to 0.35 while sports and performance cars use 0.4 to 0.7.

Question 2

What is washboard resonance in a car suspension?

Accepted Answer

Washboard resonance occurs when a car drives over regularly spaced bumps at a speed where the bump frequency matches the suspension natural frequency. The natural frequency is the square root of k over m divided by 2 pi. At resonant speed the body oscillations grow dramatically especially with low damping. This is why shock absorbers are critical for safety.

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Car Suspension (Quarter-Car Model)