A Simulation Study of Rotating Impact within a Damper of Torque Converter

It is common that angular velocities can be different from time to time between an engine output and transmission input, because both are connected by a damper in torque converter with flexible elements in it. When this difference occurs abruptly for some reasons, an internal impact could start between the engine-attached members (also known as driving members) and the transmission-attached members (or driven members). The resulting impact load could be several times the torque an engine’s combustion force can generate, depending on the impact energy. An impact load can be very devastating to a torque converter and other power-train members, just as to all other mechanical systems. This work presents a comprehensive and interesting study to help understand the rotational impact behavior for a system where none of bodies is stationary at the onset of impact. Using an explicit finite-element solver for case studies, the author will assess what role a friction-based clutch, placed between the engine and vibration-isolating damper, will play, by limiting the passage of engine’s kinetic energy to some degree. It is interesting to find that it is the relative, not the absolute, angular velocities of impacting bodies that dictate the outcomes of an impact event.