Modal Analysis of Engine Supporting Bracket using Finite Element Analysis

The Engine supporting bracket plays a vital role by reducing noise, vibration and harshness. The current work describes the finite element approch for modal and static structural analysis of engine supporting bracket. CAD model of engine supporting bracket was created in CATIA software and same was analyzed for stress and vibration analysis using ANSYS workbench 15.0. Both initial design and modified design was compared for output responses in terms of equivalent Von-Mises stress, deformation and strain energy absorbed. In modal analysis, bracket was considered for vibration studies. The sole aim of modal analysis was to check whether the self excitation frequency of engine supporting bracket was less than natural frequency. Four alternative materials (Gray C.I., Aluminum alloy, Magnesium alloy and ERW-1) were analyzed. Stress analysis results suggest that deformation and Von-Mises stresses observed in EEW-1 materials was less (0.495 mm and 164.87 MPa). Further natural frequency of modified design was found to be 257.83 Hz which was well within the range below self-excitation frequency and less than the natural frequency (268.59 Hz) of initial design. It was found that aluminum bracket limit its use for the said application due to greater deformation and less stiffness. Magnesium bracket can be the option to ERW-1 steel for the Engine supporting bracket application but it cannot be deployed as it is highly susceptible to corrosion. From the results, it can be concluded that ERW-1 material best suit the requirement of the desired application and can be deployed with some safety standards.