Numerical and experimental investigation of a monotube hydraulic shock absorber

This work is devoted to the dynamics of a hydraulic monotube shock absorber, whose design resembles racecar vehicles dampers, prototyped at the University of Perugia for scientific purposes. A physical approach is adopted for numerical modeling of the global operation of the device, and the model is validated against a comprehensive test bench experimental campaign, conducted at velocities and frequencies typical of racecar vehicles. The main peculiarity of the prototype is that it is built in Plexiglas, and therefore, it has transparent walls allowing experimental tests with optical acquisition through high-speed camera. This provides a completely novel perspective, because it is possible to observe the evolution of the internal behavior, through the optical access, jointly with standard experimental test approaches. These experimental techniques are especially fit for the analysis of the cavitation phenomenon: the influence of the main boundary conditions (compensation pressure, fluid temperature) on the onset and the evolution of cavitation is investigated. Further, the influence of cavitation, according to its evolution, on the performances of the device is investigated. In particular, it is further shown that the optical acquisition is fundamental to have insight on the incipient and evolving phases of cavitation, which cannot be observed through the common techniques found in the literature.