Study on the factors affecting temperature field and stress field of the wet shift clutch

The factors to influence on the distribution of temperature field and stress field were investigated on the plates within a wet shift clutch in hydrodynamic machineries for one engagement. A three-dimensional model of the friction pair was developed by using the nonlinear FEM software ABAQUS. In modeling process, the effect of frictional contact, relative rotary speed and thermo-mechanical coupling were taken into account. Then, the influence on thermal field and stress field was analyzed by investigating the parameters of relative rotary speed, thickness of steel plate and oil pressure. It is found that high relative rotary speed results in higher rise of temperature and stress on interior areas and increases the radial stress gradient on the contact surfaces as well. Increasing the thickness of steel plate in a certain range can lead to uneven distribution of temperature and stress. Higher or lower oil pressure brings a relative reasonable distribution of temperature and stress fields, however, together with a negative influence on vehicle performance.