Browse Topic: Transmissions
High-speed wet clutches may experience dynamic instability between the friction plates, leading to rattling vibrations and a significant increase in drag torque. This study employs a homogeneous flow model to characterize the gas-liquid two-phase flow within a high-speed clutch. It establishes a dynamic model for the angular oscillation of friction plates. Finite-element numerical simulations and stability analyses were conducted. The results indicate that as the clutch speed difference increases, the density and viscosity of the two-phase flow decrease rapidly, leading to a sharp reduction in fluid stiffness and damping. Consequently, the friction plates become more susceptible to angular oscillation. The stability of angular oscillation is determined by two key parameters: dimensionless comprehensive stiffness and critical frequency ratio. Higher dimensionless comprehensive stiffness and a lower critical frequency ratio enhance oscillation stability. Numerical evaluations of various groove types reveal that as rotational speed and friction plate clearance increase, the fluid stiffness coefficient, damping coefficient, dimensionless comprehensive stiffness, and critical moment of inertia all decrease, thereby reducing angular oscillation stability. Among the tested groove geometries, enclosed grooves and spiral grooves exhibit superior stability due to their strong hydrodynamic effects, yielding the highest dimensionless comprehensive stiffness. The critical frequency ratio for the self-excited angular oscillation of friction plates is approximately 0.5, termed the half-frequency oscillation characteristic. Experimental data validate the proposed angular oscillation model and its frequency response, providing a theoretical foundation for performance prediction and stability optimization in high-speed clutch design.
This study details the development and experimental validation of a high-fidelity one-dimensional (1D) simulation model for a two-speed transmission designed for off-road vehicles, such as tractors and backhoe loaders used in agricultural and civil engineering applications. The model, implemented in the AMESim platform from Siemens, integrates physics-based loss sub-models for all major components, including gears, bearings, seals, and fluid drag (churning) losses. After development, the model was rigorously validated against test bench data, with efficiency measurements taken across various speed, torque, and oil level combinations, demonstrating a strong correlation with experimental results. A detailed analysis enabled the quantification of the contribution of each loss mechanism, identifying the countershaft gears and input shaft bearings as the primary contributors. Furthermore, a Machine Learning (ML)–based calibration framework, employing Bayesian Optimization, was implemented to reduce discrepancies between simulation and experiment and to generate a synthetic dataset for the creation of fast-executing surrogate models. The study concludes that the proposed methodology constitutes an effective tool for efficiency analysis and optimization during early design stages, establishing a foundation for future integration with ML techniques and the development of digital twins.
The gearbox is a key component of the mechanical transmission system, and its fault diagnosis is essential to the reliability of the equipment. However, obtaining fault samples under actual working conditions for gearbox fault diagnosis is challenging. In this paper, the rigid-flexible coupling dynamic simulation model of the gearbox is established, and the co-simulation of gear normal, crack, and breakage is carried out in the ADAMS and MATLAB environments. The comparison between the simulated and measured signals shows that the simulation method can accurately reflect the key characteristics, such as rotation frequency and meshing frequency, and verify its reliability and accuracy. The research results can provide effective data support for gearbox fault diagnosis and improve the operational safety of mechanical systems.
As acoustic requirements for NVH trim components become increasingly constrained by mass, cost, and sustainability targets, traditional approaches to inner dash design based on spatially averaged Transmission Loss (TL) metrics are reaching their practical limits. In fully built vehicles, the acoustic performance of the inner dash is governed by its global insulation capability but also by strong spatial heterogeneity and its interaction with spatially distributed noise sources such as the power unit, gearbox, and tyre-road excitation. This paper presents a test-based methodology for the spatial optimisation of inner dash acoustic performance using reciprocal holography. By applying a calibrated sound power source within the vehicle cabin and measuring the reciprocal response in the engine bay and wheel-arch regions, a high-resolution spatial Transmission Loss “hologram” of the inner dash is obtained under in-situ conditions. The resulting spatial data enables the identification of localised acoustic weak points that are not observable using conventional testing methods. To bridge the gap between passive component characterisation and real-world vehicle operation, the spatial TL hologram is subsequently evaluated using representative operational source sound power data to prioritise acoustically relevant regions. This enables the transmitted acoustic energy to be evaluated under realistic driving conditions. The holographic data is then coupled with a parametric acoustic model of the inner dash system, allowing localised mass redistribution to be optimised using a genetic algorithm while respecting packaging and manufacturing constraints.
ZF foresees hybrid powertrain technology becoming more popular for commercial transport in the coming years, and it's working earnestly to be a major player in that realm. The supplier unveiled the TraXon 2 Hybrid transmission to the North American commercial vehicle market at last year's ACT Expo and is now evaluating the technology in real-world conditions. The next-gen automated manual transmission (AMT) is optimized to improve fuel efficiency for plug-in and full hybrid heavy-duty trucks and coaches, as well as special applications such as medium- to heavy-duty mobile cranes.
High-temperature hydraulic control in a Formula 1 drivetrain requires dimensional stability, controlled sealing force, and resistance to wear under sustained pressure cycling. Inside the limited-slip differential, the sealing architecture plays a defined mechanical role in maintaining consistent torque management under race conditions. In Formula 1, drivetrain reliability and performance are closely linked. The limited-slip differential (LSD) governs torque distribution between the rear wheels, allowing controlled transfer of power to the wheel with greater available grip. By limiting speed difference across the rear axle, the differential contributes directly to traction and cornering behavior, particularly where grip levels vary across the vehicle. At the center of this assembly is a hydraulic actuator that clamps a friction clutch inside the differential. The actuator modulates clutch engagement to redirect torque as grip levels change through corner entry, mid-corner load transfer, and acceleration on exit. Its performance depends on precise hydraulic control, which in turn depends on sealing integrity. Within this system, seal integrity is paramount, as significant leakage could cause a catastrophic loss of system function and force the team to retire the car.
For brake and clutch components of aircraft vehicles which require higher mechanical strength and wear resilient, light-weight aluminium composites were developed infusing solid lubricant. In this study, hybrid composites were developed using powder metallurgy route with aluminum alloy AA356 and various amounts of zirconium oxide (ZrO2) (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt.%) as reinforcements. A solid lubricant hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) at a fixed 5 wt.% is considered. Following the appropriate ASTM guidelines, the specimens were mechanically characterized by measuring their density, porosity, micro-hardness, compression strength, impact strength, and flexural strength, among other properties. The findings showed that the composites' mechanical and physical behaviour were greatly affected by the inclusion of ZrO2. Porosity increased as a result of particle clustering and interfacial voids, while density increased gradually as ceramic content increased. Consistently increasing ZrO2 addition led to micro-hardness improvements; at 20 wt.% reinforcement, values reached their maximum, indicating that the hard ceramic phase contributed to better surface resistance. The best balance between particle reinforcement and matrix continuity was suggested by the compression and flexural strengths peaking at 15 wt.% ZrO2. However, when the addition was raised to 20 wt.%, brittleness and porosity began to marginally deteriorate. Unreinforced and lower ZrO2 composites had superior toughness in impact, whereas materials with a higher content had a poorer energy absorption capacity. The 5 wt.% hBN improved fracture arresting capabilities and helped load transmission over the interface. Inclusion of hBN provides solid-lubricating tribofilm formation that enhances the tribological performance. This study reveals that AA356/ZrO2-hBN hybrid composites have good hardness and compressive strength improvements, with 15 wt.% ZrO2 being the best composition with good strength, toughness, and wear resistance.
New powertrain choices keep popping up on new vehicles from OEMs that debuted at NYIAS this year. The 2026 New York International Auto Show was - as any good auto show should be - a microcosm of the automotive industry writ large at this time. Call it a reconsideration, a shift or just the latest in customer trends, but one thing was clear in New York this year: having options is the answer. There were still markers that kept the past alive in New York, like Nissan's gas-powered 2027 Z NISMO with an all-too-rare manual transmission. Still, when looking past enthusiast-focused models towards the larger market, it's clear that everything from ICE models to EVs to PHEVs to hybrids will remain part of the U.S. market for years to come. Here are some highlights from NYIAS this year.
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