Title: Optimising the natural frequencies of a fan shroud in a powertrain cooling system with modal iteration method

Authors: Michael Huang

Addresses: Behr America, Inc., 2700 Daley Drive, Troy, 48083 MI, USA

Abstract: The durability of a fan shroud is determined by its vibration response to the road, which in turn is determined by its natural frequencies relative to the frequencies from road excitation. The objective of the current study is to develop an optimisation algorithm that increases a specific structure|s natural frequency such that it separates itself from the main band of the road excitation. The optimisation algorithm uses a series of iterations of modal analyses in a commercially available Finite-Element Analysis (FEA) software package. After each modal analysis, the key characteristics that contribute to the structural deformation are identified and evaluated. The thickness of each element is then adjusted in accordance with the contribution. As demonstrated in a case study of a fan shroud used in a sports vehicle, the optimisation algorithm works well in enhancing the fan shroud|s natural frequency.

Keywords: fan shroud; optimisation; FEA; finite element analysis; natural frequency; vehicle vibration; powertrain cooling; modal iteration; durability; road excitation; modal analysis; structural deformation; sports vehicles.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVNV.2005.007533

International Journal of Vehicle Noise and Vibration, 2005 Vol.1 No.3/4, pp.368 - 374

Published online: 02 Aug 2005 *

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