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Automotive Harmonic Balancer Torsional Spring Rate and Slip Testing

Company: Dorman Products

Major(s):
Primary: ME
Secondary: CMPSC
Optional: CMPEN, EE

Non-Disclosure Agreement: YES

Intellectual Property: YES

Create a tester used to benchmark the functional characteristics of the rubber ring contained within a typical automotive harmonic balancer. This test shall be conducted by holding either the hub or inertia ring statically in a fixture and applying the other with a torque until the rubber ring ultimately slips or shears. The tester shall collect live data showing the relationship of torque vs. angular displacement in order to determine the torsional spring rate and overall torque resistance of the assembly. Deliverables include: - Tester, test fixture, and data recording system - Plot of torque vs. angular displacement (analogous to stress-strain curve) - Calculation of the torsional spring rate of the rubber ring (analogous to elastic modulus) - Data showing torque resistance of the rubber ring (analogous to ultimate strength)

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