Optimal motorcycle engine mount design parameter identification using robust optimization algorithms
Date
2022
Authors
Younis, Adel
AlKhatib, Fadi
Dong, Zuomin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Algorithms
Abstract
Mechanical vibrations have a significant impact on ride comfort; the driver is constantly
distracted as a result. Volumetric engine inertial unbalances and road profile irregularities create
mechanical vibrations. The purpose of this study is to employ optimization algorithms to identify
structural elements that contribute to vibration propagation and to provide optimal solutions for
reducing structural vibrations induced by engine unbalance and/or road abnormalities in a motorcycle.
The powertrain assembly, swing-arm assembly, and vibration-isolating mounts make up the
vibration-isolating system. Engine mounts are used to restrict transferred forces to the motorbike
frame owing to engine shaking or road irregularities. Two 12-degree-of-freedom (DOF) powertrain
motorcycle engine systems (PMS) were modeled and examined for design optimization in this study.
The first model was used to compute engine mount parameters by reducing the transmitted load
through the mounts while only considering shaking loads, whereas the second model considered
both shaking and road bump loads. In both configurations, the frame is infinitely stiff. The mount
stiffness, location, and orientation are considered to be the design parameters. The purpose of this
study is to employ computational methods to minimize the loads induced by shaking forces. To
continue the optimization process, Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), a meta-heuristic swarm intelligence
optimization algorithm inspired by grey wolves in nature, was utilized. To demonstrate GWO’s
superior performance in PMS, other optimization methods such as a Genetic Algorithm (GA) and
Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) were used for comparison. To minimize the engine’s transmitted
force, GWO was employed to determine the optimal mounting design parameters. The cost
and constraint functions were formulated and optimized, and promising results were obtained and
documented. The vibration modes due to shaking and road loads were decoupled for a smooth ride.
Description
Keywords
engine mount system, mechanical vibrations, ride comfort, optimization, decoupling modes, computational mechanics
Citation
Younis, A., AlKhatib, F., & Dong, Z. (2022). “Optimal motorcycle engine mount design parameter identification using robust optimization algorithms.” Algorithms, 15(8), 271. https://doi.org/10.3390/a15080271