Static Analysis of Kevlar/E-glass Hybrid Composite Lower Control Arm for Light Weight Vehicle
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Date
2018-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The suspension system is one of the key components of the automobile. This system is the mechanism that physically separates the vehicle body from the wheels. Automobile industry is regularly trying to reduce the weight of the vehicle for better acceleration, maneuverability, better responses and shorter braking distance. In this study, Static Analysis of Kevlar/E-glass hybrid composite lower control arm was done by comparing the conventional steel lower control arm which is used by LIFAN 530 VIP a four-wheel light vehicle. The main idea behind this work is to replace the existing steel lower control arm material with a laminated Kevlar/E-glass hybrid composite lower control arm with the same width, thickness and load carrying capacity (removed holes and irregular shape). In this study, the main investigation of the study is to reduce the weight of product while upholding its strength. For this study 50-60% volume fraction of fiber and 40-50% volume fraction of the matrix was selected and done by to reduce the cost of the fiber, increase strength of lower control arm, minimize the brittle of the lower control arm suspension system, and minimize the overall weight of the lower control arm suspension system. The static vertical force acting on lower control arm calculation was done. In this paper, Kevlar/E-glass hybrid composite material was manufactured using Hand Lay-up process for different composition ratio of 60%/40%, 55%/45% and 50%/50% of fiber/epoxy and its mechanical performance such as the tension, compression and flexural properties was determined using laboratory experiments. The work also gives focus on the application of FEA concepts to compare LIFAN 530 VIP conventional steel and laminated Kevlar/E-glass hybrid composite lower control arm. In the present work modeling of lower arm was done with SOLIDWORK and total deflection and equivalent (Von misses) stresses induced in the two lower arms are done on ANSY18.2 workbenches were compared. Finally, new design has been developed to reduce stresses and weight existing in the current design with structural steel lower control arm. The newly designed Kevlar/E-glass hybrid composite suspension arms achieve an average weight saving of 44.5% with respect to the baseline steel arms.
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Keywords
lower arm suspension system, laminated Kevlar/E-glass hybrid composite, solid work software, FEA, Design, Development