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Determining an amount of clutch clearance for the lockup device in a torque converter is important for its being operating precisely in the intended mode. Challenges may exist for the torque converters whose nominal clearances are on purpose very small. Any potential changes in the clutch lockup system (e.g., due to the deformation of components) may make such a small clearance instantaneously diminish during the mode of open-clutch, thus leading to unwanted drag in the clutch and unnecessary loss of energy. In the open-clutch mode, the actual clutch clearance may be different from the nominal clearance anticipated, primarily because of deformation caused by the internal load acting on clutch members. It has been found that the pressure distribution in a clutch chamber also depends on the very clutch gap through which the fluid flows. This interdependence between the fluid pressure load and structural deformation is typical of two-way coupling in simulation.

Considered in this study by the use of finite element model is a unit of assembled stator and one-way clutch (OWC) housed in a test setup, where the inner chamber is maintained at a given elevated temperature while its exterior housing surfaces are exposed to the room temperature. The two key components of dissimilar metals are assembled through the conventional interference fitting at their interface surfaces to form a friction joint at the room temperature. Due to the difference in the thermal expansion coefficients of two dissimilar materials, the outer component of aluminum from this joint tends to expand more than the inner component of steel when the temperature rises, thus leading to a possible relaxation in joining connection at their interface.

An ability to design automotive systems with optimum parameters has become very crucial in the competitive industry. Today, there are many shape optimization algorithms to choose, depending on the nature of the design parameters. Compared with the topology optimization, a topography optimization can be a good alternative. Because of the less number of design variables required for the same optimization model, the topography optimization process is generally faster. In this study, an assembly consisting of several identical sheet metal components is employed for demonstrating the effectiveness of topography optimization, in which various beads are to be derived with appropriate heights and widths, where needed, at the discretion of the algorithm to attempt to render the design variables within the constraints. The identical pieces are arranged around an axis of revolution such that the geometric shape is cyclic symmetric at a constant angular spacing.

Presented here is the finite element modeling of plate-structures within which mechanical properties varied dramatically from their outer surfaces towards inside cores. Developing such a model representing what can be characterized as laminates is of great significance in accurately predicting the strength. The benefits of this proposed methodology will be discussed by case studies of a centrifugal pendulum that has gained its popularity in high-end passenger cars because of its superior vibration suppression. The system in this work is subject to an excessive and destructive load due to centrifugal forces at extremely high angular velocities. It can be shown that the inner core, with much softer mechanical properties, easily gets into the plastic state and significantly restrains it from continuing to carry more loads as the angular velocity is ramped up. Consequently, the outer layers have to take an increased share of loads and their stresses are significantly raised.