Robust Optimization Design of the Power-train Mounting System of the Light Truck 2007-01-0556

In order to improve the isolating performance of the power-train mount system of one light truck with the uncontrollable parameters of the stiffness and location, a robust optimization design problem based on the 6-DOF dynamical equation of the power-train mount system is presented in the paper. For the robust optimization design of the power-train mount system with the uncontrollable parameter variations, a deterministic, non-gradient approach for objective robust and constraint robust optimization is discussed based on the design of orthogonal experiment and Genetic Algorithm. The robustness measures are the objective robustness indices and constraint robustness indices determined by the Decision Maker's the maximum acceptable objective and constraint variations, and the worst-case estimates of the sensitivity regions’ sizes for isolating performance of the power-plant mount system from the ranges of parameters’ variability based on the design of the orthogonal experiment and statistical analysis. The objective is to maximize decouple of the mode kinetic energy despite the uncertainty in the stiffness and location properties of the rubber mount system in the light truck for determining the locations and stiffness rates. To compare with the reference vehicle, the results of the numerical simulations and experiments in proving ground for the five light trucks with the optimization design power-train mounts showed that the isolating performances and robustness of the power-train mount system have been significantly improved.