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Difference between active springs and active damping?

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Sillyworld

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Post Mon Jan 25, 2016 7:16 pm

Difference between active springs and active damping?

In game, if Active Damping equals to magnetic ride (which allows to modify the stiffnes of the ride by set-ups or automatically by the ECU), then what are exactly the active springs? what's the difference between those 2?
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TrackpadUser

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Post Sun Jan 31, 2016 7:41 am

Re: Difference between active springs and active damping?

From what I can find, active springs would be systems that include electronically controlled hydraulic actuators either in parralel or instead of springs.

This would include systems like Toyota's Active Control Suspension introduced in 1989 on some models, Mercedes-Benz' Active Body Control introduced in 1999, as well as the suspension system on the McLaren MP4-12C.
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Sillyworld

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Post Mon Feb 01, 2016 5:11 am

Re: Difference between active springs and active damping?

So... something like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTURKAhFBJA
Thanks for answering!
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Post Mon Feb 01, 2016 9:20 am

Re: Difference between active springs and active damping?

Your question brought some questions in my mind though.

If we go with the definitions in the Wikipedia article on active suspensions, active suspension would be suspension that can actually add forces in the suspension system, to help in keeping the car more level to enhance performance or comfort. Semi-active would be suspension that only changes the stiffness of components to try to achieve the same purpose.

So it made me think, what would active sway-bars be? If we consider that systems like ABC, or the system on the McLaren, do a lot more than just control body roll.

And aren't adaptive and semi-active dampers essentially the same thing, since they affect damper stiffness dynamically?
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TurboJ

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Post Fri Feb 12, 2016 1:52 am

Re: Difference between active springs and active damping?

Active "springs" have to be either airbags or hydraulic cylinders. They can even be used in conjuction with coil springs like on some Mercedes cars.

Fully active hydraulic suspension was first mass-produced in the Citroen Xantia Activa in the mid '90s. Lotus tested a similar system on the Esprit body in the early '80s.
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