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ABSTRACT−In this study, a Coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) method
are used to predict and evaluate the performance of an automotive shock absorber. Averaged Navier-Stokes equations are
solved by the SIMPLE method and the RNG k-ε is used to model turbulence. CFD analysis is carried out for different
intake valve deflections and piston velocities. The force exerted on the valve in each valve deflection is obtained. The
valve deflection - force relationship is investigated by the FEA method. The force exerted on the valve in each piston
velocity is obtained with a combination of CFD and FEA results. Numerical results are compared with the experimental
data and have shown agreement. Dependence of valve deflection as a function of piston velocity is investigated. Effects
of hydraulic oil temperature change on valve behavior are also studied.
KEY WORDS : Shock absorber, Hydraulic damper, Hydraulic valve, CFD simulation, FEA method
615
616 M. SHAMS, R. EBRAHIMI, A. RAOUFI and B. J. JAFARI
Usually, the design of hydraulic damper valves has been In the present work, the finite volume method with
usually a trial and error process and needs skilled people unstructured meshes is used to solve the three dimen-
to obtain the best damper behavior because of the sional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The flow
complex nature of fluid flow in a hydraulic damper. governing equations are solved with FLUENTTM (1998).
Numerical simulation of hydraulic damper valves not The velocity and pressure coupling used the SIMPLE
only saves much of the time and money usually spent in algorithm. RNG k–ε model is used to model turbulence.
making specimens and performing tests, but also A grid with about 1,300,000 tetrahedral cells is generated
provides design insight that in turn makes the practical for analyzing the flow in the shock absorber. The grid
design problems easier to handle. The shock absorbers independency is checked in order to ensure that the
perform through the interaction between working fluid solution is independent to the grid number and size.
and mechanical valve structure. The ability of predicting Figure 4 shows the details of the computational grid for
valve behavior while the damper is in action using Com- the shock absorber model. A fine grid is used in the
putational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element regions with high rate of changes.
Analysis (FEA) methods is the concern of this paper.
3. RESULTS
2. FLOW SIMULATION
In practice, the first step of the damper valve CFD
The CFD modeling involves the numerical solution of simulation process begins with drawing a CAD model of
the conservation equations in the laminar and turbulent the valve. The computational domain consists of a deflec-
fluid flow regimes. Therefore, the theoretical predictions tive disc called intake valve seated on the piston body.
were obtained by simultaneous solution of the continuity The 3D models of the piston body, intake valve and
and the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equa- belonging parts are shown in Figure 3. The intake valve's
tions. The governing equations for an incompressible role in the shock absorber is as follows: when the piston
flow were: is moving down in the inner tube (compression motion),
oil pressure in chamber 'B' (see Figure 1) increases and
Mass conservation:
that of chamber 'A' decreases. Therefore, oil flows from
chamber 'B' to chamber 'A' through the intake valve
∇. ( v )=0 (1)
which deflects to let the oil displace. At the same time, a
volume of oil equal to the volume of the piston rod
Momentum conservation:
inserted into the inner tube flows from chamber 'B' into
∂(v) the reserve chamber (i.e. the space between inner and
ρ ---------- + ( v.∇ )v = ρ g−∇P+ µ ∇ 2 v (2)
∂t outer tubes) through the base valve. The intake valve's
holes play the role of fixed area orifices to let the oil flow
Since the flow in the shock absorber is in a state of
turbulent motion, it is important to use an appropriate
turbulence model for evaluating the flow field. The
standard k–ε model is a semi-empirical model based on
transport equations for the turbulent kinetic energy (k)
and its dissipation rate (ε). While the k–ε model is widely
used in industrial applications, it suffers from several
shortcomings. Improvements have been made to the
model to improve its performance by the RNG model
(Yakhot and Orszag, 1986). In the RNG k–ε model, the
effect of small-scale turbulence is represented by means
of a random forcing function in the Navier-Stokes
equations. The RNG procedure systematically removes
the small scales of motion from the governing equations
by expressing their effects in terms of larger-scale motion
and a modified viscosity. RNG k–ε model have shown
substantial improvements over the standard k–ε model
where the flow features include strong streamline curva-
ture, vortices and rotation. The two-equation k–ε model
consists of an equation for the turbulent kinetic energy, k,
and the other for the energy dissipation rate, ε, (Yakhot
and Orszag, 1986). Figure 4. CFD Mesh for the shock absorber.
618 M. SHAMS, R. EBRAHIMI, A. RAOUFI and B. J. JAFARI
4. CONCLUSION
Figure 14. Dependence of valve deflection as a function In this study, a simulation method for estimating the
of piston velocity. performance of an automotive shock absorber is develop-
ed. A numerical scheme based on the CFD is used to
the rotating crank, it is possible to achieve the desired determine the flow characteristics of a hydraulic valve
piston valve velocities. working in a hydraulic shock absorber, while FEA code
The force exerted on the valve is measured by the solves the elasticity equations and determines the valve
dynamometer and presented in Figure 13. Also, the deflection. The effects of fluid temperature change on
results are compared with numerical simulations that valve flow characteristics are also verified by this
show good agreement. numerical scheme. The CFD analysis shows the detailed
The dependency of the piston velocity and the valve fluid flow in the shock absorber. The simulation results
deflection is also measured and shown in Figure 14. It are compared with the test data. The results show good
shows that by increasing piston velocity, valve deflection agreement with the experimental data.
is also increased.
In order to investigate the effects of hydraulic oil ACKNOWLEDGEMENT−The support of Indamin Shock
temperature change (environmental conditions) on valve Absorber is gratefully acknowledged.
behavior, simulations are repeated for oil temperatures of
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