Optimization of glass epoxy composite driveshaft for light motor vehicles using fuzzy logic technique

ABSTRACT

The conventional material used for driveshaft is alloy steel, which has the limitation of strength to weight ratio. The alternative to overcome this limitation is the use of composite materials. The advanced composite materials such as graphite fibre, carbon fibre, Kevlar fibre and glass fibre with suitable resins like epoxy and polyester are widely used because of their high specific strength and high specific module. The composite material has less density, which results in a lightweight composite driveshaft. Reduction in weight of driveshaft increases the transmission efficiency and fuel economy. In this work, the glass epoxy composite driveshaft has been designed for a light passenger vehicle. An attempt has been made to optimise the designed drive shaft using the fuzzy logic technique for the weight minimisation, maximise torsional strength, torsional buckling strength, natural frequency, and critical speed. In this optimisation, the number of plies, the stacking sequence and fibre volume fraction have been considered as the design variables. The manufactured composite drive shaft has been investigated experimentally for its performance. The weight of the developed composite driveshaft is reduced by 74% without having an adverse effect on the required performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Composite driveshaft
• fuzzy logic optimisation
• torsional-buckling strength
• natural frequency
• critical speed

Nomenclatures

$T_{max}$	=	Maximum torque
$N_{max}$	=	Maximum speed
L	=	Length of the shaft
$r_m$	=	Mean radius of the composite shaft
$r_o$	=	Outer radius of the composite shaft
$r_i$	=	Inner radius of the composite shaft
${\tau }_{max}$	=	Shear Stress
$T_b$	=	Buckling torque
$E_x$	=	Young’s modulus in ‘x’ direction
$E_y$	=	Young’s modulus in ‘y’ direction
$E_1$	=	Longitudinal elastic modulus
$E_2$	=	Transverse elastic modulus
$G_{12}$	=	Modulus of rigidity
${\vartheta }_{12}$	=	Poisson’s ratio
$\rho$	=	Density
$f_{n_b}$	=	Bending natural frequency

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rajaram M. Shinde

Rajaram M. Shinde is working as a Assistant Professor (Automobile Engg.) at Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Rajaramnagar, Maharashtra, India. He has published papers in peer reviewed international journal and proceeding of international conferences are 22.

Suresh M. Sawant

Suresh M. Sawant is working as a Professor (Mechanical Engg.)  at Rajarambapu Institute of Technology, Rajaramnagar, Maharashtra, India. He has guided total 8 students for their m. Tech. work. Total 03 research scholar pursuing their PhD under his guidance. He has published papers in peer reviewed international journal and proceeding of international conferences are 53.