Active suspensions for flexible-bodied rail vehicles

This work investigated the design of classical and optimal control strategies to actively control the flexible modes of a high speed railway vehicle body. It explored the novel idea of adding a third actuator at the centre of the vehicle body to suppress the flexible body modes (i.e. first symmetrical and first asymmetrical) in addition to the actuators located across the front and rear secondary suspensions. The aim is to minimise the level of vibration and improve the ride quality (comfort). Both the two and three actuators are considered in the classical and optimal control strategies investigated. [Continues.]