Sergey Repin

Sergey Repin, professor at the SPbGASU Department of Land Transport and Technological Machines, completed research work (R&D) “Theoretical research and development of the design of a shock absorber with an adjustable damping characteristic for the chassis of transport and technological construction machines” as part of a grant competition of research performed by scientific and teaching staff of the St Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering in 2023.

Many mobile transport and technological machines (TTM: cranes, excavators, machines for repairing and maintaining roads, mobile repair shops, etc.) are made on the basis of truck chassis. Due to the specific nature of their use, TTMs mainly travel on roads with unimproved surfaces containing large irregularities, and therefore experience large dynamic loads that adversely affect their speed of movement, durability, and personnel comfort. Increasing the smoothness of the TTM would solve the problem of driving on uneven roads. But, since modern truck chassis suspensions are not capable of ensuring proper smooth running of TTM, additional research in this direction is required.

The smooth running of the vehicles is ensured by the chassis suspension, which includes a lever system, elastic and damping elements. Elastic elements absorb shock loads while driving over uneven surfaces, while damping elements dampen vibrations after passing through uneven surfaces. In typical suspensions, elastic and damping elements are made separately - elastic in the form of springs and shocks, damping in the form of shock absorbers. Previously, Sergey Repin, together with other employees of the Department of Land Transport and Technological Machines, managed to develop shock absorbers that included both types of elements. Moreover, for the elastic elements, it is possible to adapt the suspension to various types of roads, including those with large irregularities.

As part of this research work, a shock absorber design with an adjustable damping characteristic was developed, and its operation was mathematically described. A computer program has been developed that provides the selection of shock absorber parameters for chassis of different weights, regulation of elastic and damping characteristics to adapt to different types of roads.

The practical use of the developed shock absorbers will significantly improve the efficiency of TTM by increasing the speed of movement on uneven roads and increasing durability.