Search Results

A comparative study of two different chassis frames when subjected to independent front and rear towing loads has been made. These frames have different structures and are made of two different non-linear materials. The applied towing loads subject the frame material to very high stresses (above the yield point). Hence a non-linear large deflection analysis needs to be performed to find out the resulting plastic deformation after the towing loads are removed. It has been observed that one of the frames is strong in the front while the other is strong in the rear. Abaqus, which is a non-linear finite element (FE) solver has been used to evaluate the two designs.

A web based software program has been developed to do a Finite Element (FE) analysis of a simplified driveline system. In the past, an expert analyst had to make a Finite Element Model, analyze and then report results. It has been observed that this process is time consuming besides the difficulties of doing quick parametric studies, geographical location of designers, analysts, etc. The web-based software program aims to solve these issues. The designer could get analytical & Finite element results anywhere around the world (where the designer has access to the web) without any expertise in FE modeling. This software is a joint effort of Engineering and Information Technology (IT) software groups. It is based on Active Server Page (ASP) technology and MSC/NASTRAN technologies combined. Input data deck is prepared from user inputs and submitted over the internet to a remote system, solved and results are retrieved and plots shown in minutes, instead of days earlier.

A fuel filter system essentially consists of a center tube, which is screwed on to a head and rests against a bowl. A thin circular plate, called end-cap, slides inside the bowl with spline teeth. The fuel filter material is inside the bowl and rests on the end-cap. When the bowl is tightened an input torque is transferred to the center tube and on to the head. It is required to estimate the stresses of the various components when a maximum tightening torque is applied to the bowl. A non-linear large deflection contact analysis of the fuel filter system needs to be performed. A number of contacts between the different deformable bodies, i.e. head and bowl, end-cap and center tube, etc. are resolved for equilibrium.

A methodology of using topological optimization technique for bring down the weight of a structure has been discussed. Special variables are defined for each of the finite elements, which are related to the thickness, density and Young's Modulus of the material. A Topology optimization problem is set up to solve for these special variables. The major advantage in this method is that the user can give additional stress and displacement constraints. Optimization solvers, which can handle discrete variables, are required. At the end of the optimization the special variables are snapped on to pre-defined extreme values which determine which elements could be successfully eliminated to reduce weight of the structure.

The aim of this analysis is to study the effects of flexibility of the suspension components like upper control arm, lower control arm and knuckle on the suspension forces as experienced by a vehicle. An independent front suspension, which was being proposed for a vehicle, has been used for this analysis. A rigid body quasi-static analysis was first performed. Later a finite-element model of the suspension first with rigid elements and later with flexible elements was analyzed using non-linear large deflection and compared with the rigid body results. It is found that flexibility of the suspension components only have a local effect and not much of a global effect.

In a power transmission module a snap-ring is fitted inside a groove of a clutch drum. When a hydraulic pressure is applied at one end of a clutch piston it presses against a clutch pack and an end plate. The end plate then presses against the snap ring, which reacts against the groove of the drum. It is required to estimate the pressures, deflections and stresses of the various components when a maximum hydraulic pressure acts. A non-linear large deflection analysis of the snap-ring, which fits into the groove, is performed. A number of contacts between the different deformable bodies, i.e. end plate and snap ring, snap-ring and the groove, etc. are resolved for equilibrium.

In a power transmission module, a circular splined clutch end plate hits against a snap-ring, which is fitted inside a groove of a clutch drum. It is required to estimate the stresses on the clutch end plate when a maximum pressure acts on one of the sides of the end plate and it presses against the snap ring on its other side. A non-linear large deflection analysis of the snap-ring, which fits into the groove, is performed. A rigid contact problem between two deformable bodies, i.e. end plate and snap ring, and another rigid contact between the snap-ring and the groove are then solved to find out the stresses on the end plate.