STRUCTURAL OPTIMISATION OF THE DRY CLUTCH WITH CONICAL FRICTION SURFACE WITH MULTI-OBJECTIVE FUNCTIONS

The structural optimisation of the dry clutch with a conical friction surface is presented, with multi-objective functions such as contact pressure and surface temperature. A program utilizing MATLAB for conducting both simulation and optimization calculations was developed. The variation of clutch torque, normal force, friction surface width, and pressure on the contact surface for contact pressure is simulated according to the inner and outer diameter dimensions of the pressure plate. Furthermore, the simulation takes into account the effects of friction work, outer surface area, and temperature on the friction surface, with these parameters derived from the inner and outer diameter dimensions of the pressure plate, aiming to generate heat. The results of the simulation indicate a direct correlation between the increase in the outer radius of the friction surface (ro) and the subsequent rise in clutch torque (MK), the decrease in normal force (FN), the increase in friction surface width (b), and the reduction in contact pressure (p). Furthermore, the simulation results demonstrated that as the outer radius of the friction surface, designated as Ro, increased, there was a concomitant increase in clutch torque, denoted as MK, as well as an increase in both friction work, denoted as WS, and outer surface area, denoted as AK. Concurrently, the temperature of the friction surface, denoted as T, decreased. Following the optimisation process, it was determined that all design parameters were found to be in accordance with the established pressure and surface temperature constraints. It is possible to achieve a lightweight clutch structure and minimise costs by optimising the design parameters.