Application of Compliant Mechanisms on Battery Bracket: Modal Analysis Perspective

Abstract

A battery bracket is a compartments in vehicle that use for holding a battery. The bracket prevents the battery from rolling out of place and causing damage to surrounding objects, or even to the battery itself. Compliant mechanism was one of method for redesigning any complex mechanical part to significantly reduce the numbers of parts, simplify the manufacturing process, reduce costs and end up with a more reliable. This concept was used in designing a new car battery bracket in order to solve the complexity of battery bracket design. Shape optimization is part of the field of optimal control theory. The typical problem is to find the shape which is optimal in that it minimizes a certain cost functional while satisfying given constraints. This method is used in this paper in order to get the optimum design according to compliant mechanism concept. Nearly all objects, when hit or struck or somehow disturbed, it will vibrate. When each of these objects vibrates, they tend to vibrate at a particular frequency or a set of frequencies. The frequency or frequencies at which an object tends to vibrate with when hit or struck or somehow disturbed is known as the natural frequency of the object. Modal analysis was implemented in order to enhance performance and reduce component and overall vibration. The goal of modal analysis in structural mechanics is to determine the natural mode shapes and frequencies of an object or structure during free vibration. It is also possible to test a physical object to determine its natural frequencies and mode shapes. The results of the physical test can be used to calibrate a finite element model to determine if the underlying assumptions made were correct. In order to get the natural frequency, modal analysis from ANSYS software was used. From the result of modal analysis, the new design of car battery bracket will be compare to the datum model.