MSC.Patran-Based Fatigue Life Prediction of a Transmission Synchronizer

The transmission synchronizer is an important variable speed synchronization mechanism of a vehicle. Since accurate and feasible working load data at the design stage of the synchronizer are lacking, the design loads are taken to be static rather than actual working ones, resulting in a high failure rate of the synchronizer in service, which seriously affects the reliability of the whole transmission. The virtual prototype model of a transmission synchronizer is presented. The working load-effected fatigue life of a synchronizer pin is calculated with MSC.Patran software. The failure mechanism of the synchronizer pin is analyzed to predict its fatigue life under complicated working conditions. It provides an important theoretical basis for the optimum design of synchronizer mechanism parameters and reliable transmission design, which is of great practical significance.