Virtual Prototyping of an Automotive Magnetorheological Semi-Active Differential by means of the Reverse Engineering Techniques

摘要

Aim of this paper is to describe a researchactivity on the virtual prototyping, by means of the ReverseEngineering techniques, of an automotive semi-activedifferential based on the use of a Magneto-Rheological Fluid.The MRF allows to control the locking torque andconsequently to improve the vehicle handling. Starting fromthe 3D digitizing and the virtual reconstruction of a gearbox ofa common front wheel drive vehicle, the boundary volume ofthe new device (MRF LSD) was defined and a preliminaryCAD model was realized. Then, optimizing its dimensions andchoosing the adequate materials, the final virtual prototypewas obtained. The successive GD&T phase allowed to get thebest assembly procedure and quality of the final model of thenew device. In order to evaluate the goodness of the virtualsimulations realized and of the results proposed, a physicalprototype was manufactured. Finally, several experimentaltests were carried out to validate the design process.