Earticle

Drag torque reduction in a wet clutch pack is a key aspect of the design process of the dual clutch transmission (DCT) system. In order to reduce the drag torque caused by lubricant shear resistance, recently developed wet clutch pack systems of DCT, as well as automatic transmission and other four-wheel drive (4WD) couplings, frequently utilize wavy wet clutch pads. Therefore, wavy shape of friction pad are made on the groove patterns like waffle pattern for the reduction of drag torque. Additionally, the groove patterns are designed with larger channels at several locations on the friction pad to facilitate faster outflow of lubricant. However, channel performance is a function of the waviness of the friction pad at the location of the particular channel. This is because the discharge sectional area varies according to the waviness amplitude at the location of the particular channel. The higher location of the additional channel on the friction pad results in a larger cross-sectional area, which allows for a larger flow discharge rate. This results in reduction of the drag torque caused by the shear resistance of DCTF, because of marginal volume fraction of fluid (VOF) in the space between the friction pad and separator. This study computes the VOF in the space between the friction pad and separator, the hydrodynamic pressure developed, and the shear resistance of friction torque, by using CFD software (FLUENT). In addition, the study investigates the dependence of these parameters on the location and waviness amplitude of the channel pattern on the friction pad. The paper presents design guidelines on the proper location of high waviness amplitude on wavy friction pads.

This work studies the flow behaviors in the gap between the friction pad and separator in wet-clutch systems. The fluid volume of the lubricant is modeled using the entire system of wet-clutch pack of a dual clutch transmission that has larger outer radius of odd gear shifts and smaller inner radius of even gear shifts. Flow behaviors in the gap of the clutch pad are computed using the gear shift modes that consider the real relative velocities between the friction pad and separator. Flow behaviors in the gap of the disengaged clutch pad are mainly investigated for the wet-clutch system, whereas the engaged clutch pad is modeled with no fluid rate through the contacting surfaces. The developed hydrodynamic fluid pressures and velocity fields in the clutch pad gap are computed to obtain the relevant information for managing flow rates in wet-clutch packs under dual operating conditions during gear shifts. These hydrodynamic pressures and velocity fields are compared on the basis of each gear level and gap location, which is necessary to determine the effects of groove patterns on the friction pad. Shear stresses in the gap locations are also computed on the basis of the gear level for the inner and outer clutch pads. The computed results are compared and used for the design of cooling capacity against frictional heat generation in wet-clutch pack systems.

The drag torque in the wet clutch system of a dual clutch transmission system is investigated because it is relatively high, up to 10 of the total output torque of the engine, even when the clutch is in the disengagement state with zero torque transfer. Drag torque results from the shear resistance of the DCTF between the friction pad and separator plate. To reduce the drag torque for ensuring fuel economy, the groove pattern of the wet clutch friction pad is designed to have a high flow rate through the pattern groove. In this study, four types of groove patterns on the friction pad are designed. The volume fraction of the DCTF (VOF) and hydrodynamic pressure developments in the gap between the friction pad and separator plate are computed to correlate with the computation of the drag torque. From the computational results, it is found that a high VOF and hydrodynamics increase the drag torque resulting from the shear resistance of the DCTF. Therefore, a patterned groove design should be used for increasing the flow rate to have more air parts in the gap to reduce the drag torque. In this study, ANSYS FLUENT is used to solve the flow analysis.

Engine torque is transferred to the transmission where drag torque is minimized improving fuel efficiency. This is particularly true in a wet clutch pack. This study measures slip friction when the wet clutch pack in a DCT (Dual-Clutch Transmission) is disengaged, and the friction pads are slipping. Shudder engagement velocity, and applied forces can be measured under various working conditions through these torque transfer experiments. Test results demonstrate that the design parameters, and engagement conditions of wet clutch packs can be optimized to reduce shudder and frictional vibration during engagement in a dual clutch transmission.

Transmission fluid film behaviors in the gap between the wet clutch pad and separator plate are analyzed using the CFD software ADINA. Three pattern groove designs are selected and are used to validate the fluid film behaviors based on the outlet flow in the gap when the wet clutch pad and separator plate are engaged. The main design goal for pattern grooves is faster engagement. In most cases, much of the outlet flow of transmission fluid in the gap occurs on the outer radius boundary due to the centrifugal force generated by the clutch pad circular motion. Groove patterns are created to ensure faster transmission fluid outlet flow in the direction of the inner radius boundary. Computational results of the selected groove patterns are compared.

Frictional heat greatly influences the friction behaviors during clutch engagement. Therefore, the engagement of a wet or dry clutch is frequently not under control by the frictional heat. In a wet clutch, the frictional temperature also specially needs to be controlled, and in many cases, the clutch material is selected to prevent a temperature rise from the friction between friction pad and separator. However, only the selection of the clutch material cannot ensure sufficient control of the temperature rise by the friction. The groove pattern on a friction pad is designed for more flow rates of transmission fluid between the contact gap of clutch pad and separator for the cooling effect. In this work, grove patterns are designed for more flow rates out of the contact gap between friction pad and separator plate. Selected groove design shows the improvement flow rates of transmission fluid through both inner and outer radius, where most of the transmission fluid flows through the outer radius when the clutch is engaged due to the centrifugal force in conventional wet clutch groove. Several comparisons of the amounts of frictional heat generated on clutch pads are made in order to verify the decrease of the temperature rise according to the flow rates along the groove patterns.

This study is focused on the resin layer formation of UV imprinting process by changing imprinting pressure and period. The mold shape is made for the process of window open over the pattern transfer area and the imprinting period is assigned as the time just before the UV light curing. The residual layer is measured by changing the imprinting period and pressure magnitude, and the measured data of residual layer provides useful information for the design of the process conditions of imprinting processes.

Elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) analysis shows that film thickness is very flat in the contact area and pressure distribution is somehow similar to that of Hertzian contact pressure except the outlet region with pressure spike. These typical patterns of EHL film thickness and pressure are the cases under the steady contact conditions of applied loads and speeds. However, many engineering contacts are rather under the conditions of varying loads and contact speeds, and therefore the predictions for endurance life and performance of machine elements with steady EHL analysis are not suitable in many occasions. This study shows the differences in film thickness formation and pressure distribution between steady and transient contact conditions in several contact cases.

Many research of elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) has been performed under the condition of steady state loading. However, mechanical elements undergo severe high loads that are in the fluctuating modes of frequency and amplitude. Conventional numerical method for the circular contact of EHL study has the difficulty in making the film thickness and pressure of EHL converged in high loads of steady state as well as fluctuating loading conditions. In this work, multigrid multilevel method are used for the stable convergence of film pressure and thickness under the conditions of high as well as varying loads, and very stable solutions of film behaviors with elastic deformation are obtained. Several results of dynamic loading condition are shown and compared with those of steady state condition in the aspects of circular EHL film thickness and pressure.

Ultraviolet-nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL) is promising technology for cost effectively defining micro/nano scale structure at room temperature and low pressure. In addition, this technology is fascinating because of it's possibility for high-throughput patterning without complex processes. However, to acquire good micro/nano patterns using this technology, there are some challenges such as uniformity and fidelity of patterns, etc. In this paper, we have focused on uniform contact mechanism and performed contact mechanics analysis. The dimension of the flexible sheet to get adequate uniform contact area has been obtained from contact mechanics simulation. Based on this analysis, we have made a uniform pressurizing device and confirmed its uniform pressurized zone using a pressure sensing paper.

Controlling of thermal environment and flow in nanoimprint process chamber is important to ensure high precision levels of products. The purpose of this paper is to build optimal nanoimprint process environment. Because of this, Optimum PI control parameter for precise temperature control has been examined. Also porous medium of ventilation system is simulated for uniform flow in the equipment chamber. The porous medium consists of mesh structure, and is installed to place which flow the influx of the air flows. PID control parameter is based on the data obtained by experiment. And then heating and cooling method which simultaneously operated was used for decreasing an error. In conclude temperature in the equipment chamber was able to control precisely in the range of ${\pm}0.1^{\circ}C$ by the PID control parameter and Deadband.

The contact surfaces between mold and target should be in parallel for a proper imprinting process. However, large size of contacting area makes it difficult for both mating surfaces (mold and target planes) to be in all uniform contact with the expected precision level in terms of thickness and position. This is caused by the waviness of mold and target although it is very small relative to the area scale. The gripping force for both mold and target by the vacuum chuck is other major effect to interrupt the uniform contact, which must be avoided in imprinting mechanism. In this study, the cause of non-conformal contact mechanism between mold and target is investigated with the consideration of deformation due to the vacuum gripping for the size $470{\times}370\;mm^2$ LCD panel.

The process conditions during ultraviolet nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL) process such as temperature, stamping pressure, UV irradiation, etc. are effective factors for successful imprinting of complex and fine patterns. In this study, the effects of aluminum mold on the thermal characteristics of UV-NIL process were investigated through imprinting experiments and numerical simulations. The temperature of polymer resin on mold was measured to study thermal characteristics during UV curing. From the experimental and numerical results, the importance of curing reaction control for UV-NIL process was discussed for deformation characteristics.

The profile of the roller in the axial direction is the main design factor in order to increase endurance life against the contact fatigue due to the stress concentration along the edge of the roller. Even under the elas-tohydrodynamic lubrication (ehl) conditions, the stress concentration along the edge of the roller greatly worsens the fatigue life both for the roller and contacting body. In this study, roller contacts of finite axial length are studied for the film thickness and pressure of ehl. For the real contact behaviors under the ehl conditions, multigrid and multi-level method is applied so that much higher loading conditions can be investigated. Several axial profiles of roller are investigated to verify how both ehl film and pressure are generated and some of them are recommended for the ehl contact condition.

Various correlations of saturated vapor density in a truncated power series form are tested and compared in this study. Saturated vapor density correlation can be expressed relating logarithmic reduced density to the reduced temperature. Five types of correlation has been investigated using saturated vapor density data for 22 pure substance refrigerants from ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Reftigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.) property tables and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Chemistry Webbook. Correlations are fitted to the data points by least squares method. Data points are equally weighted. The best type of correlation among the five types is suggested. The results obtained indicate that the best correlations with 3, 4, and 5 terms yield average AAD's (Average Absolute Deviation) of 0.27%, 0.04%, and 0.02%, respectively, while widely used conventional correlations with 3, 4, and 5 terms yield those of 1.19%, 0.61%, and 0.17%. The suggested type of correlation could reduce the number of terms while improving performance.

The purpose of the study is to simulate the displacement of the LCD glass during process of a large size imprint. During this process, a small temperature variation makes thermal stress, which causes the horizontal variation of mold and glass. During alignment process to fix the LCD glass on a alignment stage, the vertical displacement is made by the absorption pressure and the shear stress. This study simulates the horizontal displacement of mold and glass due to temperature variation, the vertical displacement depending on the shape of absorption surface fixing the LCD glass in the alignment process, and the horizontal and vertical displacement which occurs in the LCD glass at the alignment process. Algor which is a FEM code for a framework simulation was applied. Temperature variation above ${\pm}$ $0.1^{\circ}C$ on mold and glass causes the horizontal displacement of 150nm due to thermal expansion. The vertical displacement due to the circular is ten times of the case of rectangular absorption nozzle. The displacement of the LCD glass in the alignment process is about 49nm.

This paper presents a virtual machine design simulation program. Kinematics of various mechanisms can be modeled with 3 dimensional geometry and actuators. CAD data for any machine component can be easily imported in STL format. Machine components are assembled with kinematic joints simply by drag and drop function in virtual graphic simulator. Interference and collision of any component with other components can be identified during the motion simulation. Graphic user interface program is developed using Microsoft Direct X code. A precision micro stage system is demonstrated with the proposed virtual machine design simulator.

During a process of a nanoimprint for manufacturing LCD, a small temperature variation on the LCD glass can cause thermal stress and generate unexpected displacement. To avoid this trouble, a precision temperature control unit using thermoelectric modules is appropriate for nanoimprint processes. The unit consists of an air control system, a cooling water control system, and a power control system. The air control system includes a thermoelectric module, thermocouples measuring temperatures of air and a duct-stale fin, and two air fans. The heat generated by the thermoelectric module is absorbed by the cooling water control system. The power control system catches the temperature of the thermoelectric module, and a PID controller with SCR controls the input power of the thermoelectric module. Temperature control performance is evaluated by experiment and simulation. The temperature control unit is able to control the exit temperature about ${\pm}2^{\circ}C$ from the incoming fluid temperature, and the error range is ${\pm}0.1^{\circ}C$. However, the control time is approximately 30minute, which needs further study of active control

The durability of an automatic transmission is greatly affected by the ATF(automatic transmission fluid) flow behaviors inside the transmission. However, it is very difficult to exactly estimate the flow rates of ATF at each part of automatic transmission, because of its structural complexities especially when it is under the operating conditions. This computational study by commercial software, Fluent on axial cavity flow behaviors of ATF through the hollow main shaft simulates the discharge flow rates through the oil hole when it is under the operating conditions. ATF horizontally enters into the hollow main shaft by the oil pump and discharges through the oil holes into open air under the rotating conditions. Oil supply flow rate, supply pressure, rotational speed of shaft and magnitude of oil hole diameter are varied in the simulation. Under the variations of these parameters, flow rates through the oil holes are investigated. This study is believed to be the start point for the optimal design of the lubricating system in the automatic transmission.