Multi-axial road simulation for Component level validation of engine mount structure and elastomer

Today, reducing the vehicle development time is a very crucial task. In the early development stages, the limited time and vehicle prototypes are available for validation. In such scenarios, durability validation of different design iterations of critical components like engine mounts, with respect to the real road usage is a challenge. Road simulation testing in a laboratory is a reliable approach to fatigue and durability tests for the evaluation of platforms, components and subassemblies. Durability evaluation of engine mount is, generally, performed either at assembly level, using multi-axial road simulation approach or at component level, using uniaxial sinusoidal load testing. The new testing approach here allows testing of engine mounts at component level using road simulation approach by applying multiaxial loads or deflections as per the real road usage conditions. This testing approach enables fast, accurate and highly repeatable reproduction of desired motions, providing the absolute confidence in the test data results and also, allows vehicle designers to conduct meaningful design iterations. This testing is performed to meet all conditions, ranging from small road surface vibrations, vehicle yaw conditions to high-velocity pothole strikes. This testing approach gives confidence of product reliability, performance and quality, while reducing costs and overall vehicle development time.