The finite element analysis and the optimization design of shock absorber based on ANSYS

Abstract

The shock absorber is a part designed to smooth out the shock impulse and dissipate kinetic energy. The engine is the main power of the vehicle and the most direct reason that cause the vibration of the vehicle. If the shock absorber cannotcontrolthe vibration will make other parts of the body has seriously affect like vehicle handlingstability and shorten the vehicle’s component life. The shock absorber system connects a vehicle to its wheels and contributes to the vehicle’s road handling and braking for better safety and driving pleasure and offering a comfortable ride well isolated from road noise, bumps, vibrations. In this paper, the authors propose a new shock absorber design that it can smooth out or damp shock impulse, dissipate kinetic energy, and reduced amplitude of disturbances. When a vehicle is through on a level road and the wheels strike a bump, the spring is compressed. The compressed spring will attempt to return to its normal loaded length and will rebound past its normal height, causing the passenger and body vehicle to be lifted. The rebound process is repeated over and over, a little less each time, until the up-and-down movement finally stops. The design of spring in the shock absorber system is very urgent. In this project, a shock absorber is created using SolidWorks 2014. The model is also varyingdiameter and design of the spring. Structuralanalysis and modalanalysis are done on the shockabsorber by varying material for AISI 347 and ASTM A228 using ANSYS 19.1. The analysis is done by considering loads, bike weight with 2 person passengers. Static structural analysis was done to validate the strength of the materials and design. Modal analysis was done to know the displacements for different frequencies for the number of modes. Comparison is done for two materials with a varying diameter of spring to verify the best materials and design for the shock absorber. Based on the static analysis result, the safety factor for the fatigue life of the shock absorber design has been calculate d based on Goodman, Soderberg, and Gerber fatigue theories. The stresses and strains were also found to be optimum which leads to increase of structural strength of the shock absorber.