Optimal design of an automotive diaphragm spring with high fatigue resistance

In this paper, shape optimisation of an automobile clutch diaphragm spring is performed using a genetic algorithm. In order to have high fatigue resistance, optimum window profile is determined and concentrated stress at the window region is decreased. A genetic algorithm based approach is developed to optimise the diaphragm spring window profile which has concentrated stress, through integrating a finite element code running in batch mode to compute the objective function values for each generation. Finally, a hill climbing local search algorithm is employed to tune the window profile parameters.