Vibration Noise Harshness of a Light Truck Driveshaft, Analysis and Improvement with Six Sigma Approach

Abstract

This paper deals with the application of six sigma methodology for optimization of a cardan shaft. The aim of this optimization is to reduce vibration of the drive shaft and consequently improve vibration noise harshness of the vehicle. The six sigma methodology has been applied to a light truck, which has received excessive vibration and noise complaints. The define-measure-analyze-improve-control approach has been followed to enhance the vibration noise harshness statistics. The result shows that all expected vibration noise harshness performance targets have been dramatically improved when compared to the initial values. As a conclusion, the case study on a light truck is a useful reference to improve vehicle performance for vibration noise harshness.

Modelling of Critical Velocities of the Cardan Mechanism using Transfer Matrix Method

“…Modelling of the rotating shaft is influenced by many factors, such as workspace of universal joints [3], vibration noise [4], flexibility of a shaft [5], increasing rotation velocity [6].…”

Nonuniformity of Isometric Properties of Automotive Driveshafts

“…These aspects of considering the automotive driveshafts as quasi-isometric (isometry with nonuniformity) CVJ (homokinetic) transmissions allows for the development of future research in torsional forced vibrations and the bending-shearing vibrations of automotive driveshafts. This starting point in the investigation of the geometric and kinematic isometric nonuniformities of driveshafts opens the door to modeling of the forced torsional dynamic behavior of the driveshafts in the region of nonlinear parametric vibrations as already mentioned in literature [9,[12][13][14] In Figure 14, the geometric nonuniformity isometry for the driveshaft…”

“…As can be seen, none of this research has involved the nonuniformity of the geometric and kinematic isometry of automotive driveshafts. Tiberiu-Petrescu mentioned in [8] the variation in angular velocity of a double-cardan transmission, while in [9], it dealt with the use of a six-sigma methodology for the optimization of cardan shaft transmission for light truck driveshafts, because it's exploitation was necessary for improving the vibration's noise harshness. One paper [9] mentioned the presence of vibration noise harshness due to the driveshaft, but the authors did not research why this phenomenon was present.…”

“…Tiberiu-Petrescu mentioned in [8] the variation in angular velocity of a double-cardan transmission, while in [9], it dealt with the use of a six-sigma methodology for the optimization of cardan shaft transmission for light truck driveshafts, because it's exploitation was necessary for improving the vibration's noise harshness. One paper [9] mentioned the presence of vibration noise harshness due to the driveshaft, but the authors did not research why this phenomenon was present. In one researcher's master's thesis [10], the author developed a software based on MATLAB's Simulink to realize the modeling and simulation of vehicle kinematics and dynamics, but the models of vehicle transmission are very simple without touching the special phenomena of vehicle transmission.…”

Effects of Boundary Conditions on the Modal and Spectral Properties of the Shaft

“…The mathematical model of the rotating shaft is influenced by many factors, such as vibration noise [1], flexibility of shaft [2], increasing rotation velocity [3], workspace of universal joints [4] and others [5]. A number of powerful software packages for calculation of torsional vibration already exists [6].…”