Taguchi-based grey relational analysis on multiple damping characteristics of a hydraulic engine mount

Abstract

In this study, the damping properties of a passive hydraulic engine mount used in automobiles were experimentally examined for high-amplitude vibrations in the low-frequency range. The effects of design parameters on the damping properties of the mount were investigated. Two levels were determined for these parameters, and based on these levels, the design of experiment (DoE) was created using the Taguchi L16 orthogonal array approach. According to the DoE, hydraulic engine mounts with various design configurations were tested in the 0-30 Hz frequency range with +/- 1.5 mm vibration amplitude, and the peak values of dynamic stiffness (Kd) and phase angle (phi) were concluded from the test results. Grey relational analysis (GRA) was applied for both peak values by the larger-the-better performance characteristic, and grey relational grades (GRGs) were obtained. The analyses of signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and variance (ANOVA) were implemented for GRGs, and the experimental combination that provides the best damping performance, priority order, and contribution percentages of the parameters were determined. Afterward, regression analysis was performed using GRGs, and based on the regression analysis, analytical equations were predicted according to design parameters for Kd and phi. Analytical results were compared with the experimental results, and the results were obtained in agreement. As a result, it has been determined that the analytical equations for the damping properties can be obtained with high accuracy by using the experimental data. So, the possibility of accurately getting damping properties will enable mount manufacturers to respond to customer demands in a short time.