Reduction of Vibration and Noise in the Powertrain of Passenger Cars with Elastomer Dampers

The paper describes a theoretical and experimental approach to solve vibration and noise problems in the powertrain with vibration control products on an elastomer basis.

Crankshaft dampers can reduce the torsional, and - if properly tuned and designed - also the bending vibrations. The paper compares the crankshaft vibrations for different damper designs which shows the potential for further vibration and noise reductions.

Shafts in the drivetrain are excited to torsional and bending vibrations by the inertia and gas forces of the engine, cardan joints and gear mesh. For the following two problems vibrations and noise are investigated:

1. 1
   A torsional resonance of a driveshaft
2. 2
   A bending resonance of a halfshaft

Measurements show that noise and vibrations from the drivetrain can also be reduced significantly with tuned elastomer dampers.