Influence of the Hook Position on the Vertical Vibrations of an Automobile Exhaust System: Application of the Robust Optimization Design

Abstract

A robust optimization design method is proposed to investigate the influence of the hook position on the vertical vibration (bending) of an automobile exhaust system. A block diagram for the robustness analysis of the exhaust system is initially constructed from the major affecting factors. Secondly, the second-order inertia force is set as the vibration excitation source of the exhaust system and the displacement of four hooks of the exhaust system is selected as the variable factor. Then tests are carried out to investigate the resulting vertical bending considering four influencing factors and three levels of analysis. Finally, a variance analysis of the vertical bending is performed. The present study provides a set of guidelines to control the key factors affecting the vibration of vehicle exhaust systems while proposing an effective method to reduce vehicle vibration and improve noise analysis.