Neural Network Modeling and Dynamic Analysis of Different Types of Engine Mounts for Internal Combustion Engines

This paper presents the results of studies on reducing the amount of vibrations in different frequency ranges generated by a combustion engine through the use of different types of engine mounts. Three different types of engine supports are experimentally and numerically analyzed, namely an elastomeric engine mount, an elastomeric engine mount with a hydraulic component and standard decoupling, and an elastomeric engine mount with a hydraulic component and a modified decoupler—with this engineering design being a novelty in the literature. Experimental tests that considered different excitation frequencies were performed for the three types of engine mounts. Experimental data for stiffness and damping were used to obtain nonlinear mathematical models of the two systems with hydraulic components through the use of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). For the results, all of the mathematical models presented coefficients of determination, R(2), greater than 0.985 for both stiffness and damping, showing an excellent fit for the nonlinear experimental data. Numerical results using a quarter-car suspension model showed a large reduction in vibration amplitudes for the first vibration model when using the hydraulic systems, with values ranging between 48.58% and 66.47%, depending on the tests. The modified system presented smaller amplitudes and smoother behavior when compared to the standard hydraulic model.