In early design phases of ball typed constant velocity joints (CVJ), which are widely used for the uniform transmission of rotational movement in driveshafts, the knowledge of the interactions between the components is essential. Therefore, a simulation model for a multi-body analysis is developed to consider general, transient operating conditions of the joint in the development process. The model is derived using the example of a plunging joint of the rear prop shaft, which has a straight track geometry and two track angles. On this basis, a two-dimensional, analytical contact determination between balls and tracks can be carried out, which reduces the required computation times compared to a general contact determination. Although rigid bodies are used for numerical analysis, local elastic deformations between the contact bodies are possible on the basis of Hertzian contact theory. For a higher level of detail, frictional forces are also taken into account via the Coulomb friction law, which is adapted for numerical use. To validate the simulation model, the influences of the numerical parameters are discussed and the numerical results are compared with the analytical results of the statically undeflected joint condition. Finally, the created simulation model is utilised to present the numerical joint analysis using two examples of joint kinematics analysis.

The numerical investigation of acoustic damping materials, such as foams, constitutes a valuable enhancement to experimental testing. Typically, such materials are modeled in a homogenized way in order to reduce the computational effort and to circumvent the need for a computational mesh that resolves the complex micro-structure. However, to gain detailed insight into the acoustic behavior, e.g., the transmittance of noise, such fully resolved models are mandatory. The meshing process can still be avoided by using a ficticious domain approach. We propose the finite cell method, which combines the ficticious domain approach with high-order finite elements and resolves the complex geometry using special quadrature rules. In order to take into account the fluid-filled pores of a typical damping material, a coupled vibroacoustic problem needs to be solved. To this end, we construct two separate finite cell discretizations and prescribe coupling conditions at the interface in the usual manner. The only difference to a classical boundary fitted approach to vibroacoustics is that the fluid-solid interface is immersed into the respective discretization and does not correspond to the element boundaries. The proposed enhancement of the finite cell method for vibroacoustics is verified based on a comparison with commercial software and used within an exemplary application.

Within a multi‐body simulation (MBS) a three‐dimensional FE model is employed to represent the nonlinear properties of rubber bushings. This is implemented via a sequential force‐displacement coupling between the two solvers. For a first material modelling approach of the elastomer, the modified Neo Hooke model is used in conjunction with the generalized Maxwell model. Later, however, a physically motivated material model will be used. First results for a single‐mass oscillator are presented and show the general functionality of the coupled approach. Since the use of FE models in MBS causes a significantly higher computational effort, it is necessary to realize the coupling between FEM and MBS as efficient as possible, which is also a future task.