Vibration characteristics and topology optimization of a double damper lock-up clutch in a torque converter system

Damper springs in a drive-line absorb the impulsive torque generated when a lock-up clutch is connected directly, instead of via a fluid coupling. Design optimization and finite element analysis were performed to improve the shock- and vibration-absorption capacity of the lock-up clutch. For this purpose, a multi-body dynamics model was developed by including the main parts of a vehicle, such as an engine with a clutch, a transmission, drive shafts and wheels, and a whole mass of a vehicle. The spring constants were selected so that resonance of a system could be avoided. Damper springs were optimized on the basis of the spring constants, impulsive torques, compressed angles, spring counts, fatigue constraints, etc. Topology optimization was performed for three plates with the damper springs. The compliance was set up as an objective function, and volume fraction was fixed below 0.3. A new shape for the plates was proposed on the basis of the topology result.