The testing of newly developed air suspension modules in the test stand is of vital importance in securing their life span. For this purpose, an automatic semi-axle test stand was set up according to test requirements. With this facility, we test the life span of Vibracoustic GmbH & Co. KG’s air suspension systems under realistic mechanical and thermal conditions. The test stand features a number of specific characteristics permitting the realistic modelling of conditions occurring during driving operation.
The installation situation of the systems to be tested, consisting of air suspension and absorber, is thus re-created in the vehicle using original components, supported via the test stand’s variable pivot points. The mechanical load is applied via a servo-hydraulic test cylinder which connects to the wheel pivot. Via digital control, random load/time curves can be realized in real-time. This simulates the compression of the wheel during driving manoeuvres or when it hits potholes and obstacles. In order to consider the steering movement’s influence on the axle kinetics and the resulting load acting on the shock absorber when the system is installed at the front axle, a second servo-hydraulic test cylinder can be applied at the steering arm and/or lever. In the test stand, the test item is supplied with all media input and signals, such as conditioned compressed air and energised active elements, which are usually generated by the vehicle at real driving conditions. The test is set up in an insulated temperature chamber allowing for ambient temperatures ranging from -40°C up to +100°C.
This way we ensure that all relevant operational characteristics are considered when testing.
The following positioning speeds and loads with respect to hydraulic actuators are possible on the test stand:
| Vertical excitation | Horizontal and/or steering movement | Temperature range | |
| Static load max. | +/- 100 kN | +/- 25 kN | -40°C to + 100°C |
| Dynamic load max. | +/- 80 kN | +/- 20 kN | |
| Stroke max. | +/- 125 mm | +/- 125 mm | |
| Piston speed max. | +/- 3 m/s | +/- 0,5 m/s |
In addition to system testing, air suspensions, absorbers and entire suspension- absorber systems as well can be tested in a number of uniaxial shock absorber test stands with IABG. They all feature a simplified kinetics simulation. But we not only offer life cycle tests under measured or synthetic signals, we can also perform functional tests. This way, for example, static and dynamic characteristics can be measured in arbitrary operating conditions.
With this range of test systems and its technical specialists, IABG has successfully supported development and qualification tests of the system supplier Vibracoustic for many years.
