Application Of Fluid Solid Coupling Analysis In The Development Of Automobile Cooling Fan

Cooling fan is regarded as an important component and its efficiency together with performance are key indexes for thermal management system.In order to obtain sufficient experiment data,many wind-tunnel tests are required for traditional design and assessment.That means traditional process of developing engine cooling fan costs a lot and takes long.With the developing of science and technology,CFD has become a more efficient solution for cooling fan developing.At beginning of this paper,CFD software and fluid theory are introduced.CFD result accuracy are verified by comparing to data got from rapid prototype cooling fan tests.Moreover,two cases of calculation for stress distribution and deformation,vibration modal as well are implemented.In first case,cooling fan is analyzed in five different engine rpm conditions and fluid-structure interaction is taken into account.But in second case,fluid-structure interaction is ignored.By comparison of these two cases,the fan blade problems,for instance,the stress concentration,the bending and axial deformation are pointed out.Finally,basing on existing problems,this paper reveals an improved solution of adding aluminum alloy inserts.Via fluid-structure interaction analysis of optimized cooling fan,maximum stress and deformation are verified to be improved.Analysis above indicates that fluid-structure interaction CFD simulation can save cooling fan prototype quantity and test cost.Furthermore,it also can reduce developing cycle and developing cost so as to increase economic benefit.