Computer Simulation of Deformation in a Rubber Boots for Translation and Rotation of CV-joint for Automobile

Automobile industry, along with the automobile steering system, is rapidly changing and developing. The constant velocity joint transmits power to the wheels of vehicles without changing their angular velocity based on the movement of the steering wheel. Moreover, it controls their movement to act as a buffer. In order to prevent the excessive increase in temperature caused by the movement of vehicles, boots are attached to the constant velocity joint and lubricant is injected into the boots. The boots maintain the lubrication and protect the constant velocity joint from sand, water, and so on. As the wheels of the vehicle rotate, the boots are acted upon by forces such as bending, compression, and tension. Additionally, self-contact occurs to boots. Therefore, their durability deteriorates over time. To prevent this problem, polychloroprene rubber was initially used however, it was replaced by thermoplastic polyester elastomers due to their excellent fatigue durability. In this study, the structural analysis of boots was conducted. The results showed the deformation patterns of the boots based on the translation and rotation of the constant velocity joint. Moreover, it confirmed the location that was vulnerable to deformation. This study can be used to potentially design high-quality constant velocity joint boots.