Dynamic Analysis of Cardan Joints for Improving Its Performance and Life Expectancy

Abstract

Cardan joint is commonly used in shafts that transmit rotary motion. The Cardan joint may appear as a simple component within a machine. It is no longer in use for many modern day automobiles. However, almost all semi heavy and heavy trucks and automobiles with engine power of more than 250 Hp have rear driving wheels and have to be equipped with Cardan joints. On the other hand, a Cardan joint is fairly cheap and very easy to be replaced. This can be performed during the routine maintenance services. It consists of a pair of hinges located close together, oriented at 90o to each other, connected by a cross shaft. The Cardan joint suffers from one major problem even when the input drive shaft rotates at a constant speed, the output drive shaft rotates at a variable speed, thus causing vibration and wear. The variation in the speed of the driven shaft depends on the configuration of the joint. Such configuration can be specified by three variables. The universal (Cardan) joints are associated with power transmission systems.