CFD investigating medium-temperature influences on performance prediction and structure stress calculation in a hydrodynamic torque converter

Abstract

ABSTRACTWhen computational fluid dynamics was applied in a hydrodynamic torque converter, the influences of medium temperature were always ignored. Those influences were investigated in this study. The variable viscosities and constant viscosity were carried out by a comparative study. The unsteady flow fields showed the variable viscosities results were more reasonable, whereas the constant viscosity overestimated the viscous force and leaded to inaccuracy in performance prediction. The experimental data proved that variable viscosities achieved a highly accuracy, and the performance prediction inaccuracy was 1–4%. Through the comparative analysis of the equivalent stress and deformation computed from thermal-fluid–structure interaction and fluid–structure interaction, the thermal stress from medium-temperature influence should be considered during the design of a torque converter.