A control strategy to reduce the clutch thermal energy in automatic mechanical transmissions (AMT)‎

Abstract EN

Control strategies aim to improve the characteristic performance of dry frictional clutch during the engagement process in Automated Manual Transmissions (AMT).

This research presents an analytical study to reduce the clutch friction thermal energy loss generated during clutch starting up.

A new control strategy, based on a state dynamic model of friction clutch, is proposed.

The strategy depends on using the linear quadratic controller.

The strategy is designed in closed loop control system by considering the engine and the clutch disk rotating speed as state variables and the rate of the clutch clamping force as the control variable.

The performance obtained with the proposed control strategy is compared with that achievable by classical control strategies.

Moreover, different operating conditions such as load torque, friction plate material and driver starting mode were studied and analyzed.

As results the simulations obtained by the proposed controller achieve good performance, which guarantees fast engagement and minimizes the thermal losses the are generated during the engagement process.