Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2018, 66(5), 1119-1125 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun201866051119

Experimental Methodology for Acoustic Diagnostics of Shock Absorbers

Jakub Halama, Milan Klapka, Ivan Mazůrek

Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technická 2, 616 69 Brno, Czech Republic

The application of acoustic measurements brings about a new diagnostic method for evaluating the conditions of shock absorbers. In shock absorber diagnostics, it is advantageous to observe and understand what phenomena occur during the working cycle in the inner tube. Using a non-destructive and non-contact method can avoid dismantling whole device. For the research of this new acoustic method, a classic sound meter, an automotive and a train shock absorber were used. FFT analysis and concurrent filtration were applied for the measurement evaluation of obtained data. It has been proven that applying acoustic methods can lead to diagnostics of aeration in the shock absorbers. A defective shock absorber changes its damping characteristics as well as noise radiation compared with the properly functioning one; these differences in noise are measurable and quantifiable. The results show that characteristics of acoustic radiation of the aerated shock absorbers relate to the shock construction type.

Keywords: automotive shock absorber, acoustic diagnostics, aeration, cavitation

Grants and funding:

The research leading to these results has received funding from the MEYS under the National Sustainability Programme I (Project LO1202).

Published: October 29, 2018  Show citation