Reverse Engineering for Unbalance Excited Vibration Control in Rotating System Combining Force-Vibration Transmission Model and Parameter Identification

In advanced manufacturing field, reverse engineering based on development requirements plays an important role to ensure the performance of the mechatronic equipment. As a main vibration source, control of unbalanced excitation from rotating system can realize overall vibration performance improvement by avoiding it been amplified through transmission paths. This paper proposes the control method for the steering wheel vibration excited by the condenser-radiator-fan module (CRFM) in automobile design and manufacturing based on reverse engineering, involving the force-vibration transformation model and parameter identification. The force-vibration transmission mechanism is analyzed by formulating the established vibration model from the CRFM to the steering wheel. Then, the design requirements for the CRFM is reversely derived based on the development requirements of the steering wheel vibration level and the formulated force-vibration transfer function (FVTF) following the reverse engineering principle. Meanwhile, determination of design requirements, involving the FVTF and physical natural modal frequency, depends on parameter identification according to the field testing during the development process. To further figure out the crucial design parameters for reverse engineering, detailed analyses about the influences of FVTF parameters on the vibration isolation effect are discussed. The feasibility of the proposed vibration control development process is evaluated by applying it in solving an abnormal steering wheel vibration problem of a car. The design guidance for the steering wheel vibration control, involving the hardness and geometry of the CRFM vibration isolation rubber, are analyzed in detail, following the proposed reverse engineering process. The field-testing results show that the vibration level of vehicle steering wheel can be controlled effectively by the proposed method, and provides guiding significance for analyze of system vibration problems caused by rotating system excitation. Note to Practitioners—The unbalance excited vibration from rotating system has been the main source in mechatronic equipment, which can be most likely amplified through transmission paths. This paper proposes a control method for the steering wheel vibration excited by the condenser-radiator-fan module in automobile design and manufacturing based on reverse engineering, involving the force-vibration transformation model and parameter identification. The practical value of the proposed vibration control development process is evaluated by applying it to solving an abnormal steering wheel vibration problem in a car. The natural frequency design requirements of the cooling module, involving the hardness and geometry of the rubber, are analyzed and given in detail, including design guidance. The online vehicle steering wheel vibration test results show that the vibration level can be controlled effectively by the proposed method, which provides guiding significance for analyzing system vibration problems caused by rotating system excitation.