MODELLING AND INVESTIGATION OF A DRIVER SEAT SUSPENSION WITH NEGATIVE STIFFNESS STRUCTURE

In this study a narrow suspension seat with negative stiffness structure (NSS) was investigated. First, this suspension seat's fundamental equations were detected, and then a simulation model was created using Altair Inspire software and validated by a literature study. Inspire software was used for the first time for suspension seat with NSS in the literature vis-a-vis the authors' literature search. Afterward, the case design was created via the Taguchi method to determine parameter effects of NSS of suspension seat. Signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and ANOVA were used to examine simulation results, thus, parameter effects of NSS of suspension seat were examined comprehensive statistically for the first time in the literature vis-a-vis the authors' literature search. Therefore, it was seen that the spring ratio is a much more effective parameter than the spring preload value for vibration isolation. In addition, optimal parameters of NSS were detected. Finally, with frequency response and road input results, it was observed that the suspension seat with NSS, which crated via optimal values, showed much better isolation performance than the other passive suspension seat.