Investigation of the contact force distribution and dynamic behaviour of an automobile windshield wiper blade system

Abstract

The structural behaviour of a windshield wiper system and the dynamic behaviour of the wiper rubber blade are investigated using finite element analysis. Non-linear contact analysis was performed to examine the influences of the structural design variables such as the curvature of the primary beam, the thickness of the yoke, the rotational angle of the yoke and the thickness of the steel beam on the distribution of the contact force along the blade length, and the effects of the vertical load and the coefficient of friction on the vibrational behaviour of the blade were investigated using transient dynamic analysis. Experimental validation was conducted by measuring the contact force distribution and the vibrational behaviour of the rubber blade. The experimental data and the simulated results show good agreement. The contact force distribution is sensitive to changes in the primary beam’s curvature, the yoke’s rotational angle and the steel beam’s thickness. The vertical load and the coefficient of friction both have significant influences on the vibrational behaviour of the rubber blade. It is found that the proper combination of the variables investigated allows a more uniform contact force distribution and less vibration and thereby improves the performance of the wiper blade. These analyses demonstrate the variables that influence the wiper blade behaviour and should provide key insight into means for improving the wiper performance.