Title: A comparative study of properties of natural rubber and polyurethane-based powertrain mount on electric vehicle NVH performance

Authors: Sandip Hazra; K. Janardhan Reddy

Addresses: Engineering Research Center (ERC), Tata Motors Ltd., Pimpri, Pune – 411018, India ' School of Mechanical Engineering (SMEC), Vellore Institute of Technology – Chennai, Kelambakkam – Vandalur Rd., Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 600127, India

Abstract: Natural rubber (NR) is widely used in powertrain mount applications in an internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (EV) for its superior mechanical properties. Polyurethane (PU) is generally used as a bump stopper application under suspension in passenger cars for better ride and handling management due to its soft entry and better durability for its compressible behaviour. However, polyurethane application is gradually adopted in electric vehicle powertrain mounting systems where the specific dynamic properties are used to control the transfer of high motor torque reaction force during sudden acceleration. In this paper, properties like dynamic stiffness, creep, the durability of NR and PU are compared for application in powertrain mounting in the electric vehicle. The dynamic stiffness at low and high amplitude is discussed for both materials. The overall noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and durability benefit of PU material in electric vehicle application are discussed in this paper.

Keywords: electric vehicle; EV; engine mount; dynamic stiffness; natural rubber; polyurethane.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVNV.2022.125601

International Journal of Vehicle Noise and Vibration, 2022 Vol.18 No.1/2, pp.22 - 40

Received: 01 Jun 2021
Accepted: 16 Dec 2021
Published online: 16 Sep 2022 *