Finite Element Analysis for a Plastic Valve Cover System with anisotropic thermo-mechanical properties

In order to increase the stiffness of cylinder head plastic valve cover system (PVCS), short glass fibers and minerals are added during the injection molding of the plastic valve cover. The fibers orient themselves according to the local characteristics of the flow and the geometry of the part. The presence of the fibers results in a component with highly anisotropic thermo-mechanical properties. Traditional finite element analysis methods do not account for this, very important, phenomenon. The present manuscript describes work conducted at Dana Corp. aimed at incorporating short fiber anisotropy into the design of cylinder head valve covers.