CAE-Based Approach for Oil Pan NVH Optimization of Compact Automotive Diesel Engines

In the automotive industry, CAE methods are now widely used to predict several functional characteristics and to develop designs that are first-time-capable to meet programs targets. The N&V area is one of the increasing key factors for a product differentiation; costumers expect not only more powerful and more fuel efficient but also less noisy engines. The oil pan is one of the bigger contributors to engine radiated noise and to diesel knocking, so that great attention is paid within GM to optimize oil pans of Diesel engines by following a CAE-based approach to achieve a “first-time-capable” design for this component. This allows focusing the subsequent N&V testing activities to pinpoint modifications mainly on those components with shorter lead time.

This paper describes the key-steps that are executed to optimize the oil pan design by using CAE methods with the main intent of reducing its noise radiation. First, in order to verify the prediction capability of the analytical approach, experimental vs analytical Frequency Response Functions for an oil pan are compared, highlighting also the dynamic effect of the presence of oil in the pan. Subsequently, the article is concluded by showing one example of actual oil pan optimized by CAE taking advantage of a DOE approach.