MODELING, SIMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION ANALYSIS OF STEERING KNUCKLE COMPONENT FOR RACE CAR
Light weight and low fuel consumption are the two main demands for a vehicle, particularly for a race car. Steering knuckle, as one of the critical components of a race car, is the main subject in the present study. A light weight and optimized design of steering knuckle is proposed to be used for an EIMARace race car; a small high-performance formula-style car, with suitable material selection as well as valid finite element analysis and optimization studies. First part of this study involves modeling of steering knuckles and analysis of the stresses and displacement under actual load conditions. A CAD and FEA software; SolidWorks, is applied for modeling as well as for static analysis studies. Shape optimization is the second part of this study, utilizing solid Thinking software from Altair Engineering packages. The improved design obtained had achieved 45.8% reduction of mass while meeting the strength requirement.
Optimization and Finite Element Analysis of Steering Knuckle
Steering Knuckle is one of the critical components of vehicle which links suspension, steering system, wheel hub and brake to the chassis. It undergoes varying loads subjected to different conditions, while not affecting vehicle steering performance and other desired vehicle characteristics. This paper focuses on optimization of steering knuckle targeting reducing weight as objective function, while not compromising with required strength, frequency and stiffness. A vehicle steering knuckle undergoes time-varying loadings during its service life. Fatigue behavior is, therefore, a key consideration in its design and performance evaluation. This research program aimed to optimized best use of material for the steering knuckle and compare analysis of steering knuckles made from two materials i.e. cast iron which is recently using and aluminium alloy which is suggested material.
HYPERGOLIC REACTION MECHANISMS OF CATALYTICALLY PROMOTED FUELS WITH ROCKET GRADE HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
Abstract The coupling of the physical and chemical processes controlling the ignition delays (τ ign ) of hypergolic propellants complicates the direct analysis of the transient ignition processes. The transport properties of both the propellants and the ambient gas, and the heat of vaporization and reaction affect τ ign and must be considered experimentally. Furthermore, since hypergolic ignition occurs, by definition, on contact, the mechanics of initial contact and subsequent mixing can affect τ ign and must also be considered. Experimental results from a study of the hypergolic ignition of a catalytically promoted fuel with rocket grade hydrogen peroxide (RGHP) are presented. Statistical analysis of the experimental data was conducted to evaluate the relative effects of RGHP concentration, initial ambient pressure, and the ambient gas on τ ign . At RGHP concentrations of less than 92% in water, stable ignition was difficult to achieve. At sufficiently high Lewis number, an oscillatory ignition process is observed. A phenomenological model comprising mixing, RGHP decomposition, fuel heating and vaporization, and auto-ignition is presented and compared to the experimental results.