Communications - Scientific letters of the University of Zilina X:X | DOI: 10.26552/com.C.2026.035

Determination of Vibrations Transmissibility Characteristics of Air Suspension System for Vehicle Ride Comfort and Safety Assessment

Ryszard Dindorf ORCID...*, Jakub Takosoglu ORCID...
Kielce University of Technology, Faculty of Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mechatronics and Armaund, Kielce, Poland

The purpose of this study was to determine the vibrations transmissibility characteristics of an air suspension system (ASS) with self-damping air bellows to assess the comfort and safety of the ride. The conceptual design of a pneumatic self-damping air bellow is presented, which involves forced airflow through a damping orifice between the air bellow and an auxiliary reservoir. Two dynamic models, classical and simple, of the analyzed air bellow were used for numerical modelling solutions. Vibrations transmissibility charts as a function of the frequency ratio and at different damping ratios were determined using the accepted excitation forces. The different vibrations transmissibility states and dynamic characteristics of the air bellow for the frequency ratios and individual damping (inherent, pneumatic self-damping, and hydraulic absorber) in the ASS range were examined.

Keywords: air suspension, air spring, air bellows, vibrations transmissibility, ride comfort, ride safety
Grants and funding:

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.

Conflicts of interest:

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Received: February 17, 2026; Accepted: June 12, 2026; Prepublished online: June 12, 2026 

Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. ATINDANA, V. A., XU, X.; NYEDEB, A. N., QUAISIE, J. K., NKRUMAH, J. K., ASSAM, S. P. The evolution of vehicle pneumatic vibration isolation: a systematic review. Shock and Vibration [online]. 2023, 2023, 1716615. ISSN 1070-9622, eISSN 1875-9203. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1716615 Go to original source...
    2. ISO 2631-1:1997. Mechanical vibration and shock. Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration. Part 1: General requirements [online]. Geneva, Switzerland: ISO, 2010. Available from: https://www.iso.org/standard/45604.html
    3. SEZGIN, A., YAGIZ, N. Analysis of passenger ride comfort. MATEC Web of Conferences [online]. 2012, 1, 03003. eISSN 2261-236X. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/20120103003 Go to original source...
    4. WOS, P., DINDORF, R., TAKOSOGLU, J., DZIOPA, Z. Evaluation of the vibration isolation properties of an air suspension system with adjustable stiffness in the seats of a working machine [online]. In: Advances in hydraulic and pneumatic drives and control, centrifugal pumps, valves, and seals 2025. NSHP 2025. Lecture notes in mechanical engineering. STRYCZEK, J., WARZYNSKA, U., BANAS, M. (Eds.). Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 2025 ISBN 978-3-032-07391-4, eISBN 978-3-032-07392-1, p. 272-281. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-07392-1_27 Go to original source...
    5. WOS, P., DINDORF, R. Improving driving comfort and vibration control in vehicles by implementing semi-active seat suspension systems [online]. In: Automotive safety 2024. SZUMSKA, E, JASKIEWICZ, M., JURECKI, R. (Eds.). London: CRC Press LLC. Taylor and Francis Group, 2025. ISBN 9781003465959, p. 301-310. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003465959-24 Go to original source...
    6. DINDORF, R. A study of the damping performance of a hydropneumatic suspension strut designed to ensure safe off-road driving [online]. In: Automotive safety 2024. SZUMSKA, E, JASKIEWICZ, M., JURECKI, R. (Eds.). London: CRC Press LLC. Taylor and Francis Group, 2025. ISBN 9781003465959, p. 341-350. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003465959-28 Go to original source...
    7. CHEN, S., WANG, Y., WU, Q., HAN, H., CAO, D., WANG, B. Intelligent excitation adaptability for full-spectrum real-time vibration isolation. Communications Engineering [online]. 2025, 4, 147. eISSN 2731-3395. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-025-00486-3 Go to original source...
    8. WANG, Q., HUO, R., GUAN, Y., ZHANG, D. Optimization design of typical vehicle frame structure using power flow transmissibility objective function method - taking SD160-3 model as an example. In: 2025 8th International Conference on Traffic Transportation and Civil Architecture ICTTCA 2025: proceedings [online]. SAE. 2025. Available from: https://doi.org/10.4271/2025-99-0213 Go to original source...
    9. TORGGLER, J., FAETHE, T., MULLER, H., DUTZLER, A., MACHADO CHARRY, E., BUZZI, C., LEITNER. M. J. Fatigue assessment of cord rubber composite air spring bellows based on specimen testing and numerical analysis. Journal of Applied Polymer Science [online]. 2024, 141(37), e55949. ISSN 0021-8995, eISSN 1097-4628. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/app.55949 Go to original source...
    10. PENG, D., MEIJUAN, Z., RUIQI, W. Research on vibration control of intelligent suspension for autonomous vehicles. Advances in Mechanical Engineering [online]. 2026, 18(2), p. 1-16. ISSN 1687-8132, eISSN 1687-8140. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/16878132261420537 Go to original source...
    11. DINDORF, R. Study of the energy efficiency of compressed air storage tanks. Sustainability [online]. 2024, 16(4), 1664. eISSN 2071-1050. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041664 Go to original source...
    12. DINDORF, R. Comprehensive review comparing the development and challenges in the energy performance of pneumatic and hydropneumatic suspension systems. Energies [online]. 2025, 18, 427. eISSN 1996-1073. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/en18020427 Go to original source...
    13. MEI, Y., WANG, R., DING, R., JIANG, Y. Classification evolution, control strategy innovation, and future challenges of vehicle suspension systems: a review. Actuators [online]. 2025, 14, 485. eISSN 2076-0825. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/act14100485 Go to original source...
    14. SCHMITZ, T. Chassis concept of the individually steerable five-link suspension: a novel approach to maximize the road wheel angle to improve vehicle agility. Automotive and Engine Technology [online]. 2024, 9, 5. ISSN 2365-5127, eISSN 2365-5135. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41104-024-00142-6 Go to original source...
    15. FAUSSONE, A. Air springs for air suspension vehicle: fundamental characteristics, design in first approximation, fatigue testing and failure modes. 1. ed. Broken Arrow, OK, USA: Smashwords, 2019. ISBN 978-8892565692.
    16. Electronically controlled air suspension (ECAS) [online] [accessed 2024-07-15]. Available from: https://www.wabco-customercentre.com/catalog/en/2003001020
    17. WANG, R., JIANG, Y., DING, R., CHEN, Y., XU, K. Vehicle height control of air suspension based on speed adaptive double-zone model prediction. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering [online]. 2024, 239(13). ISSN 0954-4070, eISSN 2041-2991. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/09544070241288921 Go to original source...
    18. Hendrickson's zero maintenance damping exclusive ride technology [online] [accessed 2026-01-15]. Available from: https://www.hendrickson-intl.com/products/zmd/zmd-zero-maintenance-damping
    19. BERG, M. A Three-dimensional air-spring model with friction and orifice damping. Vehicle System Dynamics [online]. 1999, 33, p. 528-539. ISSN 0042-3114, eISSN 1744-5159. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/00423114.1999.12063109 Go to original source...
    20. PRESTHUS, M. Derivation of air spring model parameters for train simulation. Master thesis. Lulea, Sweden: Department Applied Physic and Mechanical Engineering, Lulea University of Technology, 2002. ISSN 1402-1617.
    21. TAKOSOGLU, J., ZIEJEWSKI, K., DINDORF, R., WOS, P., CHLOPEK, L. Design of the stand for experimental tests of pneumatic bellows actuators [online]. In: Advances in Hydraulic and Pneumatic Drives and Control 2023. NSHP 2023. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. STRYCZEK, J., WARZYNSKA, U. (Eds.). Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 2024. ISBN 978-3-031-43001-5, eISBN 978-3-031-43002-2, p. 152-161. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43002-2_14 Go to original source...
    22. ISO 8608:2016: Mechanical vibration. Road surface profiles. Reporting of measured data [online]. Geneva, Switzerland: ISO, 2016. Available online: https://www.iso.org/standard/71202.html
    23. Vibration damping with low-frequency air springs. Technical specifications - Fabreeka International, Inc. [online]. 2020. Available from: https://fabreeka.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Luftfederbroschu%CC%88re-2019-EN-public.pdf
    24. FONGUE, W. Air spring Air damper: modelling and dynamic performance in case of small excitations. SAE International Journal of Passenger Cars - Mechanical Systems [online]. 2013, 6(2), p. 1196-1208. ISSN 1946-3995, eISSN 1946-4002. Available from: https://doi.org/10.4271/2013-01-1922 Go to original source...
    25. GILLESPIE, T. D. Fundamentals of vehicle dynamics. Warrendale, PE, USA: SAE International, 1992. ISBN 9781560911999. Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return