This paper on "Numerical Approach for Powertrain Vibrational Analysis" was presented at the NAFEMS World Congress on The Evolution of Product Simulation From Established Methods to Virtual Testing & Prototyping - 24-28 April 2001, The Grand Hotel, Lake Como, Italy.

Summary

This paper shows the present capabilities of the CAE approach to engine design. Some of the major recent achievements in the field of the NVH simulation are reviewed and supplemented with application examples resulting from CRF (Centro Ricerche Fiat) engine design.
Here is presented the work carried out at CRF relating to the application of numerical procedures, based on FEM and multi-body approaches, for the simulation of the vibrational engine behaviour during the running conditions. The presentation deals with the acoustic and vibrational analysis of the powertrain and shows the numerical procedure able to reproduce the non linear dynamic behaviour of the powertrain and its comparison with experimental results.
The content of the present speech shows the potentiality of the numerical procedures that at the moment CRF uses to study and to optimise the new engine structures and the role of the virtual design in the engine design process.