This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Transient Thermal Modeling of an Automotive Rear-Axle
Technical Paper
2021-01-0569
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Event:
SAE WCX Digital Summit
Language:
English
Abstract
In response to demands for higher fuel economy and stringent emission regulations, OEMs always strive hard to improve component/system efficiency and minimize losses. In the driveline system, improving the efficiency of an automotive rear-axle is critical because it is one of the major power-loss contributor. Optimum oil-fill inside an axle is one of the feasible solutions to minimize spin losses, while ensuring lubrication performance and heat-dissipation requirements. Thus, prior to conducting vehicle development tests, several dyno-level tests are conducted to study the thermal behavior of axle-oil (optimum level) under severe operating conditions. These test conditions represent the axle operation in hot weather conditions, steep grade, maximum tow capacity, etc. It is important to ensure that oil does not exceed its thermal limits (disintegration of oil leading to degradation). The aim of this work is to predict the transient thermal behavior of axle-oil and generate thermal field across all the axle-components during a typical dyno test, using commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools. The predicted rise in oil temperature has been compared with those from dyno-test and good correlation (within 5%) was observed. The usage of this methodology leads to reduction of expensive dyno tests, and at the same time, shortening of axle design and development time.
Recommended Content
Authors
Topic
Citation
K S, S., Bal, H., and Modi, P., "Transient Thermal Modeling of an Automotive Rear-Axle," SAE Technical Paper 2021-01-0569, 2021, https://doi.org/10.4271/2021-01-0569.Also In
References
- Kolekar , A.S. Lubrication and Efficiency of Rear Wheel Drive Axles in Road Vehicles 2013
- Hurley , J.D. An experimental Investigation of Thermal Behavior of an Automotive Rear Axle 2009
- Gao , H. Laboratory Thermal Oxidation Study on Axle/Gear Lubricants SAE Technical Paper 2006-01-3269 2006 https://doi.org/10.4271/2006-01-3269
- Bouffet , A. Axle Oil Aging - A Fresh Look at an Old Problem (Part One - Simplified Approach to Modeling) SAE Technical Paper 2008-01-2394 2008 https://doi.org/10.4271/2008-01-2394
- Bouffet , A. and Abellaneda , G. Transmission Oil Aging Passenger Car Manual Gearbox Applications (Part Two Accelerated Testing and Field Performance) SAE Technical Paper 2009-01-2633 2009 https://doi.org/10.4271/2009-01-2633
- Zakarian , J. , and Webber , C. Oxidation of Axle Lubricants - Laboratory Studies and a Model to Predict Service Life SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants 7 3 901 910 2014
- Morgan , C. and Linden , J.L. Factors Affecting Axle Lubricant Stability SAE Transactions 114 1816 1826 2005 https://doi.org/10.4271/2005-01-3892
- Xu , H. et al. Thermal Mapping of an Automotive Rear Drive Axle SAE International Journal of Engines 4 1 888 901 2011 https://doi.org/10.4271/2011-01-0718
- Xu , H. , Singh , A. , Kahraman , A. , Hurley , J. , and Shon , S. April 4, 2012 Effects of Bearing Preload, Oil Volume, and Operating Temperature on Axle Power Losses ASME. J. Mech. Des 134 5 054501
- Patel , H. and Anto , M. Oil Splash Simulation in Final Drive with Overset Mesh SAE Technical Paper 2019-26-0274 2019 https://doi.org/10.4271/2019-26-0274
- Dhar , S. , Rawool , A. , and Ray , S. Lubricant Flow and Temperature Prediction in a Planetary Gearset SAE Technical Paper 2011-01-1235 2011 https://doi.org/10.4271/2011-01-1235
- Santra , T.S. , Raju , K. , Deshmukh , R. , Gopinathan , N. et al. Prediction of Oil Flow Inside Tractor Transmission for Splash Type Lubrication SAE Technical Paper 2019-26-0082 2019 https://doi.org/10.4271/2019-26-0082
- Renjith , S. , Srinivasa , V. , and Shome , B. CFD Based Prediction of Spin Power Loss of Automotive Differential System SAE Int. J. Commer. Veh 8 2 460 466 2015 https://doi.org/10.4271/2015-01-2783
- Nahid , M. , Saha , J. , and Rahman , S. Light Duty Truck Rear Axle Thermal Modeling SAE Technical Paper 2020-01-1388 2020 https://doi.org/10.4271/2020-01-1388