Title: Optimisation of vehicle engine mount system using simulation-based design approach

Authors: Idris Karen, Necmettin Kaya, Ferruh Ozturk, Ibrahim Korkmaz

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, Uludag University, Gorukle Campus, Bursa 16059, Turkey. ' Mechanical Engineering Department, Uludag University, Gorukle Campus, Bursa 16059, Turkey. ' Mechanical Engineering Department, Uludag University, Gorukle Campus, Bursa 16059, Turkey. ' TOFAŞ-FIAT, Yalova Yolu R&D Department, Bursa 16369, Turkey

Abstract: The engine mount systems have a significant effect with respect to reducing the vehicle development time and cost regarding NVH characteristics and shortcomings not solved yet. There is still a need to enhance the performance of engine mount systems for vehicle ride comfort. This research presents a simulation-based approach to design optimised engine mount components to isolate the road- and engine-induced vibrations without the need for physical prototypes. Experimental tests are performed to define hyperelastic and viscoelastic models for non-linear finite element simulations of rubber components. After the correlation between the results of simulations and the product tests, a virtual engine mount model is presented to design optimum engine mount systems with the desired static and dynamic characteristics. The stiffness curves of different shapes of designs are investigated, and the best curve is chosen as an optimum design solution using the design of experiments approach.

Keywords: engine mount systems; hyperelastic material; hyperelastic modelling; viscoelastic models; simulation; NVH characteristics; vehicle nosie; vehicle vibration; harshness; ride comfort; vehicle design; optimisation; finite element analysis; FEA; rubber components; stiffness curves; design of experiments; DOE.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2010.029634

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2010 Vol.52 No.1/2/3/4, pp.38 - 53

Published online: 30 Nov 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article