Abstract
Keywords: Vibrations, automotive, multibody, simulation, FEAD, accessories
During the design phase of an automotive component, it happens quite often to make a comparison between two or several design solutions in order to find the best to be developed later in details. In the past years, prototypes were built and tested but this approach was clearly time consuming and expensive. Nowadays that the time to market is shorter than before, the virtual prototype simulation is more and more important. Generally speaking, in the automotive field multibody simulation is widely used to analyse the dynamics of complex sub-systems with reliable results. This paper describes the development of the multibody model for the investigation of an automotive FEAD (i.e. front end accessory drive), which is made up by a belt supplying power, in this case, to the alternator and the compressor from the crankshaft pulley. The most important problem of this sub-system is due to engine torque fluctuations which can cause, for example, the belt to slip on the pulley or wear of the accessories. Finally, the results obtained by the simulation are compared with the experimental measurements to assess the model.