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Gear tooth friction directly influences power losses and temperature rise as well as system dynamic behavior. Recently it attracted many attentions as friction is considered one of the main sources of power losses in geared systems, such as in automotive transmissions. Coefficient of friction has been found not a constant but varies with different contact conditions, which partly makes the measurement of friction a difficult and expensive process. Therefore an analytical model that is capable of predicting it accurately becomes very much demanded. A few empirical formulae based on experimental data and analytical models based on lubrication theory are found in the literature. However, they are either not suitable for a general gear contact or too complex to adapt in gearing. In this paper, a new coefficient of sliding friction based on a thermal Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication (EHL) model is developed by a multiple linear regression analysis.

Limited-slip differentials improve traction and handling when compared to open differentials, but offer no active modulation and can compromise typical driving. A number of passive control systems exist that attempt to reduce this compromise. Electronically controlled limited-slip differentials (eLSD) are being introduced that allow active control of the differential in all driving situations and can be operated as an open differential, a fully locked differential, or at any point between these extremes. Such an eLSD system was implemented in two General Motors front wheel drive cars-one on an automatic transmission and applied by the transmission pump, the other on a manual transmission and applied by an external pump. This eLSD system contains a multi-plate wet clutch connected to the differential carrier and right side half-shaft of an all wheel drive capable transmission.

A series of bending fatigue tests were conducted and S-N data were obtained for two groups of 4320 steel samples: (1) carburized, quenched and tempered, (2) carburized, quenched, tempered and shot peened. Shot peening improved the fatigue life and endurance limit. The S-N data exhibited large scatter, especially for carburized samples and at the high cycle life regime. Sample characterization work was performed and scatter bands were established for residual stress distributions, in addition to fracture and fatigue properties for 4320 steel. Moreover, a fatigue life analysis was performed using fracture mechanics and strain life fatigue theories. Scatter in S-N curves was established computationally by using the lower bound and upper bound in materials properties, residual stress and IGO depth in the input data. The results for fatigue life analysis, using either computational fracture mechanics or strain life theory, agreed reasonably well with the test data.

Fatigue testing of components is used to validate new product designs as well as changes made to existing designs. On new designs it is common to initially test parts at the design stage (design verification or DV) and then again at the production stage (production verification or PV) to make sure the performance has not changed. On changes to existing designs typically the life of the new part (B) is compared to that of the old part (A). When comparing the fatigue life Weibull analysis is normally used to evaluate the data. The expectation is that the B10 or B50 life of the new part or PV parts should be equal to or better than that of the old parts or the DV parts. However, fatigue testing has a great deal of inherent variability in the resulting life. In this paper the variability of numerous carburized and induction hardened components is examined.

This paper presents a novel torque-vectoring (biasing) differential system Dynamic Trak™ that can be applied to both the inter-axle and the inter-wheel differential systems. The Dynamic Trak™ has three multi-plate clutches. The center clutch located inside the differential case provides a limited-slip or complete lock-up capability. The two outboard clutches positioned at either sides of the differential case selectively adjust the torque flow to the left or right shafts/wheels. An electronic control unit and a hydraulic circuit unit control the three clutches, realizing the active management of the torque to the two output shafts/wheels. The Dynamic Trak™ can provide maximum of 100% torque add or subtraction to the wheels, while maintaining the open differential feature. A virtual model representing a passenger car equipped with the Dynamic Trak™ has been developed. The simulation results show the handling and stability enhancements by the Dynamic Trak™.

Axle primary gearing is normally carburized for high and balanced resistance to contact fatigue, wear, bending fatigue, and impact loading. The focus of this work is on bending fatigue which is a key design consideration of automotive and commercial vehicle axle gearing. Since a carburized component is basically a composite material with steep gradients in carbon content, hardness, tensile strength and microstructure from surface to the middle of the cross section combined with non-linear residual stress, its bending fatigue life prediction is a complex and challenging task. Many factors affect the bending fatigue performance of axle gearing, such as gear design, gear manufacturing, loading history during service, residual stress distribution, steel grade, and heat treatment. In this paper, the general methodology for bending fatigue life prediction of a carburized component is investigated. Carburized steel composites are treated as two homogeneous materials: case and core.

To improve fuel economy and possibly reduce product cost, light weight and high power density has been a development goal for commercial vehicle axle components. Light weight materials, such as aluminum alloys and polymer materials, as well as polymer matrix composite materials have been applied in various automotive components. However it is still a huge challenge to apply light weight materials in components which are subject to heavy load and thus have high stresses, such as gears for commercial vehicle axles or transmissions. To understand and illustrate this challenge, in this paper we will report and review the current state of art of carburized gear steels properties and performance.

A new proprietary Atmospheric Pressure Microwave Plasma Technology, developed for various materials processing applications, has been applied to P/M sintering of cam lobes. The aims were a) to compare the new processing route with conventional process for the same alloy composition and b) to check the possibility of successful sintering at higher temperatures so that different higher temperature P/M alloys may be used. P/M green cam lobes were used, and sintering runs were carried out initially at temperatures comparable to that currently used in the conventional processes; this was followed by runs at higher temperatures that are not very practical in the conventional processing route due to equipment component constraints. Properties such as density and hardness were measured for the sintered samples, together with corresponding microstructural analysis.

In this study, the finite element analysis of hydroform tooling system using three different surface-to-surface contact methodologies is evaluated, such as the traditional non-linear gap element methodology, the newer linear gap technology and the 3D non-linear surface contact algorithm. These methods are investigated with the help of case studies, from exercise model level to more complicated models of real parts. Key parameters like analysis results, computational time and ease of use for each method are discussed. Directions regarding adaptivity to local user’s software resources and implementation strategies are provided. The linear gap method is observed to be more effective as pre-processing and computing time with same accuracy results as the non-linear static method in the design stage of hydroform tools analysis with pure sliding.

The main objective of this paper is to investigate contact fatigue life models and to evaluate the effect of surface finish on contact fatigue life. The effect of surface finish on contact fatigue life was investigated experimentally using two roller contact fatigue tests. The test samples, i.e. rollers, were carburized, quenched and then tempered. Two different roller surface finishes were evaluated: machined and as heat-treated surface (baseline rough surface) vs. super finished surface (smooth). Because many factors are involved in sliding/rolling contact fatigue, contact fatigue modeling is still in the early development stage. In this work, we will analyze our contact fatigue test results and correlate contact fatigue life with several empirical contact fatigue models, such as the lambda ratio, a new surface texture parameter, and a normalized pitting model which includes Hertzian Stress, sliding, surface roughness and oil film thickness.

A transfer case was designed to utilize electronic control. It has a planetary interaxle differential for proportional torque split. An electromagnetic clutch is applied across the differential to enhance mobility when road coefficients allow single wheel or single axle traction loss. The need for clutch actuation is monitored by an electronic module and sensor system, that detects abnormal amounts of differentiation in the interaxle unit. Clutch actuation is signaled and controlled by the module, which is also electrically connected to the rear axle ABS brake system to eliminate any possible simultaneous function compatibility issues. System emphasis is on foul weather mobility when negotiating highway and secondary roads. The family vehicle market was targeted and performance parameters were adjusted toward mobility and driver confidence to complete a given trip.

Higher demands from automotive customers for quieter vehicles and the reduction of noise and vibration levels from major sources like the engine necessitate better performance of other sources of noise and vibrations in a vehicle. One of these sources that Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) demand making quieter is the power steering system. The pressure ripple generated by the power steering pump transfers to the fluid lines where it can generate objectionable noise and vibrations. This can become an excitation force to the structure of a vehicle or the steering gear and can become a source of discomfort to the vehicle occupants. Attenuation of the pressure ripple within the hose assembly can result in significant reduction in noise inside the vehicle. The NVH research team at the Fluid System Products of Dana Corporation has developed “Dana's Virtual Test Rig (DVTR™),” - a hydraulic system simulation software.

Vehicular suspension ball joints can be categorized in the family of tribological systems which can reduce useful service or working capacity through malfunction or breakdown. Detailed metallurgical analysis of the friction and wear mechanisms on typical ball joint bearing surfaces point to a Teflon-based woven fabric, self-lubricating liner as the best bearing material for the joint. Laboratory functional testing was conducted on modern, 4-axis test equipment simulating the applicable loading and motion conditions typically encountered in use. The self-lubricated bearing liner woven with Teflon thread demonstrated higher sustained load capacity, less rotating friction, excellent torque retention qualities and extended life in comparison to existing components utilizing greased metal-on-metal and/or “plastic” bearing materials.

This paper will describe the development of an accelerated testing methodology for an off-highway vehicle rotary oil seal system. There are two typical field failure mechanisms associated with off-highway input pinion shaft oil seals: 1) excessive abrasive wear of soft seal lip and hard shaft surface due to abrasive environment; 2) excessive heat and degradation of the seal lip due to lack of lubricity and wear of the shaft surface run against this seal. The accelerated testing of the rotary oil seal consisted of a combination of the following factors; shaft run-out, eccentricity, testing temperature, rotation and reciprocal motion of the seal lip relative to the shaft surface. The combination of these factors especially reciprocal motion reproduces the same failure mechanism, i.e. shaft wear grooves and oil seal lip wear observed on the field usage samples with 6,300 hours service in only 350 hours of accelerated testing.

Improvements in component/system design is a daily challenge these days, always looking for high performance, reduced mass and low costs. The source for the best fit between these factors, coupled with adequate durability performance, is crucial to the success of a given product and this is what motivates engineering teams around the world. The demand for efficient projects with short deadlines for validation and certification is huge and simulation tools focused on accelerated durability and virtual validation are increasingly being used. When developing a new spring for commercial vehicles, lessons learned from the actual loads applied to the suspension are the “key” to a successful project. The loads/stresses from the ground (vertical loads, lateral loads, longitudinal and braking loads) are quite high and, consequently, relevant to the proper definition of the design of the suspension components.