Numerical Simulation of Automotive Drive Shaft Using Carbon/Epoxy and Kevlar/Epoxy Composite Materials to Enhance Fatigue Life

Abstract

The impact of the orientation angle and stacking order of the composite material on the torsional strength, buckling, and natural frequency of the drive shaft was demonstrated in a number of investigations. When designing and analyzing various composite materials, carbon/epoxy and Kevlar/epoxy were further looked at for their suitability in terms of torsional strength, torsional buckling, and bending natural frequency of the drive shaft. However, the fatigue life of these materials is not student very well. This, study will analysis the property of carbon/epoxy and Kevlar/epoxy composites automobile drive shaft fatigue life in addition to weight, bending natural frequency and equivalent stresses analysis. Before designing composite materials, the steel drive shaft will be designed and analysis based on weight, torsional strength, torsional buckling, bending natural frequency and fatigue life as a reference for comparison. Then, utilizing a modeling equation, ANSYS 18 and Solid work 16 as a tool, numerical and analytical analysis is carried out. Analytical and numerical results are contrasted as part of the validation process. The driveshaft made of carbon/epoxy composite material greatly reduces the weight of the driveshaft when compared to steel and Kevlar/epoxy drive shafts by comparing both analytical and numerical data. In contrast, the increased number of plies in the Kevlar/epoxy drive shaft gives it a longer fatigue life than the steel, carbon, and epoxy drive shafts. As a result, it is stronger against shearing and buckling loads.