Vibro-Acoustic Numerical Analysis for the Chain Cover of a Car Engine

In this work, a vibro-acoustic numerical and experimental analysis was carried out for the chain cover of a low powered four-cylinder four-stroke diesel engine, belonging to the FPT (FCA Power Train) family called SDE (Small Diesel Engine). By applying a methodology used in the acoustic optimization of new FPT engine components, firstly a finite element model (FEM) of the engine was defined, then a vibration analysis was performed for the whole engine (modal analysis), and finally a forced response analysis was developed for the only chain cover (separated from the overall engine). The boundary conditions applied to the chain cover were the accelerations experimentally measured by accelerometers located at the points of connection among chain cover, head cover, and crankcase. Subsequently, a boundary element (BE) model of the only chain cover was realized to determine the chain cover noise emission, starting from the previously calculated structural vibrations. The numerical vibro-acoustic outcomes were compared with those experimentally observed, obtaining a good correlation. All the information thus obtained allowed the identification of those critical areas, in terms of noise generation, in which to undertake necessary improvements.