Design of the Hybrid-Propeller Shaft Using Composite Materials

Abstract

The propeller shaft of rear-wheel drive vehicle transfers power from the engine to rear wheels through the differential gear box. Generally the propeller shaft has a two-piece steel structure of more than 10kg of weight. In this paper, we designed the one-piece hybrid propeller shaft using the aluminum, carbon fiber composite material and glass fiber composite material. Research on the adhesive strength of the hybrid propeller shaft with respect to roughness of aluminum surface was conducted. The one piece hybrid propeller shaft satisfying the performance standards of propeller shaft such as statistic torsion torque strength and first bending natural frequency was manufactured. The manufactured hybrid shaft was assembled with the suitable connecting parts and analyzed for performance verification. This hybrid propeller shaft satisfies all performance standards of propeller shaft for automobile application. The hybrid shaft has vibration characteristics of 237Hz significantly higher than the standard characteristic of 150Hz of the existing two-piece steel structure propeller shaft.