Quantitative Multi-Physics Tools for Automotive Wiper Design

The primary function of automotive windscreen wipers is to remove excess water and debris to secure a clear view for the driver. Their successful operation is imperative to vehicle occupants’ safety. To avoid reliance on experimental testing there is a need to develop physics-based models that can quantify the effects of design-based decisions on automotive wipers. This work presents a suite of evaluative tools that can provide quantitative data on the effects of design decisions. We analyse the complex non-linear contact interaction between the wiper blade and the automotive screen using finite element analysis, assessing the impact of blade geometry on the contact distribution. The influence of the evolution of normal applied load by the wiper arm is also investigated as to how it impacts the contact distribution evolution. The dynamics of the blade are subsequently analysed using a multiple connected mass spring damper system. Additionally, we apply hydrodynamic lubrication theory to study the residual film thickness post wipe and assess the effect of wiper blade geometry and lubricant composition. Finally, the complete wiper system is studied using a lump dynamic model, and bifurcation analysis is applied to determine areas of instability due to friction induced vibrations. Additionally, the wiper dynamics modelling shows peak frequencies occurring at 30-50Hz, which agrees well with a documented range of chatter frequencies. The friction coefficients calculated within the hydrodynamic model fall within experimentally documented ranges of lubricated sliding friction, μ ≈ 0.1. Furthermore, the areas of operational stability predicted by our bifurcation model coincide with current experimentally determined optimal operational regions for automotive wipers.