Energy Dissipation Mechanism and Control Model of a Digital Hydraulic Damper

In order to achieve the high efficiency and stable cushioning effect under the uncertain impacting situation, a digital hydraulic damper is developed which can adjust the whole buffering capacity so as to be adaptable to the impacting load on time during the buffering process. In the paper, the mechanism of energy dissipation in the digital hydraulic damper and the whole damping process are studied. The relationship between the energy dissipation process and the control process is given. Firstly, the energy dissipation process of the digital throttling unit is studied, and the mathematical model of energy losses of the digital hydraulic damper unit and the energy dissipation model of the whole digital damper are established. The energy dissipation model of the digital hydraulic buffer is proposed. Secondly, the effect on energy losses caused by the three elements of the digital damper, which are the sudden extension of cross section, form of orifice, and form of cone valve port, is analyzed. Finally, based on the energy dissipation model, the control model of the energy dissipation process is given, which lays a theoretical foundation for detailed structural design and control optimization.