How do these two go together? I was looking at the spring rates and damper valving for various versions of the NSX. For example, there's a 53% difference in the front spring rate, but for damper valving there's a difference in 58 or 82 or 74% depending on velocity. So how do spring rates and damper valving work together?

 

vig I'm pretty sure there is a simple explanation for this. But I know for sure that it all relates to differential equations. I don't know the specifics enough to lay out some math here though.

I would imagine you would want to figure out what kind of suspension action you would be having, using that data to figure a good spring rate so that the velocity would be in a sweet spot on the shock dyno for most situations.

 

This is an example of what I'm talking about. Regarding ITR suspension:
http://itrsport.com/technical.html#ft_suspension

The front suspension uses coil over, gas-pressurized damper assemblies fitted with the Honda Progressive Valve (HPV) unit for progressive damping action. The spring and damping rates have been greatly increased to improve performance handling. Front spring rate has been increased by 22 percent, with a 115 percent increase in compression damping, and a 70 percent increase in rebound damping. Additionally, the damper mounting bushing stiffness has been increased five-fold.

How did spring rate, compression and rebound valving all increase so differently?

 

this is the part where suspension tuning is a black art i think.

theres 3 variables in a basic mass-spring-damper equation. you guessed it, the mass, the spring rate, and the damping force.

theres a VERY SPECIFIC, and HIGHLY THEORETICAL, value for each given value to equal whats known as "critically damped". thats basically when given an outside force, the mass bounces back at a very controlled motion, not overly bouncy or overly damped.

IGNORE THAT~!!! its only useful for mathematical exercises quite frankly.

really, im sure they just TUNED each value to what they found as their acceptable performance. theres no calculation, just adjust and test. the final result is compared to the previous and then that calculated difference is what you read.

having said all that, im really not sure what youre asking....

 

I was mostly wondering whether there was mathematical relationship between the three. But, if engineer, test, engineer is typically the approach, it explains a bit.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damping

 

lol thanks