초탄성 및 점탄성 물성을 고려한 자동차용 휠 베어링 실의 드래그 토크 예측

Abstract

Wheel bearings are important automotive parts that bear the vehicle weight and translate rotation motion; in addition, their seals are components that prevent grease leakage and foreign material from entering from the outside of the bearings. Recently, as the need for electric vehicles and eco-friendly vehicles has been emerging, the reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are becoming the most important issues for automobile manufacturers. In the case of wheel bearings, seals are a key part of drag torque. In this study, we investigate the prediction of the drag torque taking into consideration the hyperelastic and viscoelastic material properties of automotive wheel bearing seals. Numerical analysis based on the finite element method is conducted for the deformation analyses of the seals. To improve the reliability of the rubber seal analysis, three types of rubber material properties are considered, and analysis is conducted using the hyperelastic material properties. Viscoelastic material property tests are also conducted. Deformation analysis considering the hyperelastic and viscoelastic material properties is performed, and the effects of the viscoelastic material properties are compared with the results obtained by the consideration of the hyperelastic material properties. As a result of these analyses, the drag torque is 0.29 Nm when the hyperelastic characteristics are taken into account, and the drag torque is 0.27 Nm when both the hyperelastic and viscoelastic characteristics are taken into account. Therefore, it is determined that the analysis considering both hyperelastic and viscoelastic characteristics must be performed because of its reliability in predicting the drag torque of the rubber seals.