Multi-Objective Robust Design Optimization of an Engine Mounting System

This paper introduces a new method to support designers in finding optimized and robust solutions of engine mounting system. The mounting system design is a compromise between isolating the vehicle from engine vibration and constraining the motion of the powertrain within the vehicle packaging. Based on the conventional pendulum mounting system of a front wheel drive vehicle with a transversely four-cylinder engine, this study deals with the definition of a new global engine mounting concept for the NVH (Noise Vibration and Harshness) specifically improving the vehicle isolation characteristics at idle speed. The practical application of the numerical optimization is complicated by the fact that engine mounting system is a stochastic system. Its characteristics have a probabilistic nature. Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA), i.e. Pareto-optimization, is taken as the appropriate framework for the definition and the solution of the addressed multi-objective robust optimization problem. An experimental correlation analysis has been carried out using a Pareto-optimal solution to show the model accuracy.