go to top scroll for more

Projects


Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/L019426/1
Title Targeted energy transfer in powertrains to reduce vibration-induced energy losses
Status Completed
Energy Categories Renewable Energy Sources(Wind Energy) 5%;
Energy Efficiency(Other) 40%;
Energy Efficiency(Transport) 5%;
Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electric power conversion) 10%;
Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Oil and gas combustion) 40%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Dr S Theodossiades
No email address given
Sch of Mechanical and Manufacturing Eng
Loughborough University
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 30 June 2014
End Date 03 January 2018
Duration 43 months
Total Grant Value £514,747
Industrial Sectors Aerospace; Defence and Marine; Transport Systems and Vehicles
Region East Midlands
Programme NC : Engineering
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr S Theodossiades , Sch of Mechanical and Manufacturing Eng, Loughborough University (99.998%)
  Other Investigator Professor H Rahnejat , Sch of Mechanical and Manufacturing Eng, Loughborough University (0.001%)
Dr M De la Cruz , Sch of Mechanical and Manufacturing Eng, Loughborough University (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , Ford Motor Company (0.000%)
Project Contact , Getrag Ford Transmissions GmbH (0.000%)
Project Contact , Raicam Clutch Ltd (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract Systems that generate and transmit power (powertrains) in a variety of engineering applications (automotive, aeronautical, marine, turbo-machinery, renewable energy) can suffer from applied disturbances such as impact and impulsive loading, periodic or random excitation. Modern light weight philosophy and increased engine/generator output power often exacerbate the situation. The resulting vibrations increase fuel consumption unavoidably, which also results in increased emissions. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential to save up to 9.3 million tons of automotive CO2 emissions by reducing the effect of cyclic irregularities of internal combustion engines in automotive transmissions (Joachim et al. "How to minimize power losses in transmissions, axles and steerings", VDI Gears 2011). The use of palliatives to suppress drivetrain vibrations increases the product cost. Furthermore, component wear and fatigue are other effects, adding to operational costs.Passively controlled transfer of vibrational energy in coupled systems to a target, where the excess or residual energy eventually diminishes, is a - relatively - new concept called Targeted Energy Transfer (TET). It is based on imposing conditions upon nonlinear resonance between a primary source (the powertrain in this case) and a secondary system in order to achieve transfer of energy from one system to the other in an irreversible manner. The secondary system possesses essential stiffness nonlinearity, thus altering the global dynamics because of the lack of a preferential resonant frequency. Therefore, the latter can act as a Nonlinear Energy Sink (NES) over a broad range of excitation frequencies.Thus, the overarching question in this proposal is "How can one design and develop a sustainable vibration reduction technology for powertrains using the modern TET research method?" This is undertaken with the view of maximising the benefits and limiting the costs to the UK plc, as well as the consumers. Currently, the automotive industry represents 9.2% of the total UK exports (source: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders).The program of research is split into a number of work-packages in order to address the stated key-objective questions:1. How can a TET mechanism be conceived for powertrain systems to effectively absorb/harvest the excess energy? Therefore, parametric models for scenario-building simulations will be developed to fundamentally understand the energy exchange mechanisms.2. How much energy would be absorbed by the NES and under what input conditions? Is this method robust to typical variations (and uncertainties) in system parameters, initial conditions and external excitations encountered in powertrain dynamics? How do TET-based designs compare to alternative currently commercialised designs? The latter will be examined at component and system levels.3. Could the TET mechanism be used for energy harvesting purposes in real powertrain systems?4. Lastly, effort will be expended in closing the loop between the above questions and consolidating on practical methods of implementing the outcomes of 1-3 above in powertrains according to specific design objectives. The collaboration between the different project partners will be tightly managed, so that the project objectives are achieved. The generated methods will be made available in the public domain. Automotive systems represent common operating features of powertrains across a variety of engineering applications. Hence, they have been selected for this fundamental generic research. The knowledge and experience accrued in this project can be expanded to a variety of large and small scale power transmission applications for vibration reduction, including aeronautics, marine, renewable energy (wind turbines) and micro-electro-mechanical systems
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 17/12/14