Design and Analysis of a Propeller Shaft Center Bearing Bracket Using CAE

Abstract

Day by day vehicles are turning into giant machines. Bigger vehicles tend to have longer propeller shaft which sag due to their own weight. One of the methods can be, to split the shaft into two supported with the help of a center bearing and the center bearing mounted on the cross member of the chassis with the help of a mounting bracket. To design the center bearing mounting bracket, forces were analyzed at the center bearing with the help of German Standards of Propeller shafts. CAE was used to design, simulate and analyze the effect of forces on different types of center bearing mounting brackets. An L-shaped bracket was designed to support the center bearing. The stresses in bracket were found to be well below the yield strength of the material. The bracket when analyzed for normal mode vibration resulted in high amplitude of vibration and that decreased when supported. Brackets of different designs were made. Z- Shaped bracket, a flat plate fused with the bearing, a bracket in three pieces, Z-shaped bracket with ribs as used in pillars, U-shaped bracket were designed. The L-shaped bracket was compared with brackets of different designs and materials and it was found that the L-shaped shaped was superior among the designs considered.