Thesis Work 30hp-Element Based Estimation of Damping in Assemblies with Rubber and Plast components

Introduction

Thesis work is an excellent way to get closer to Traton Group and build relationships for the future. Many of today's employees began their Traton journey with their degree project.

Background

Traton Group R&D develops engines for trucks, buses and marine or industrial applications. These engines are subjected to vibration loads during operation. The nature of these vibrations depends partly on the environment in which the engine is mounted, and partly on operating parameters such as torque and engine speed. Engine components are thus designed to withstand these vibrations, while minimizing the addition of unnecessary mass. Simulation and testing methods are used to facilitate this design process are the subject of continuous improvements. This thesis will contribute to one such improvement.

Engines often include rubber bushings and plastic pipes that act as significant sources of energy dissipation. However, in many cases these components are not explicitly represented in damping models, and analyses instead rely on generalized modal damping values that overlook their actual contributions.  

Objective

Rubber bushings and plastic components which exhibit viscoelastic or hysteretic behaviour, act as significant sources of energy dissipation. These parts can have a strong influence on the overall damping characteristics of the system, especially in assemblies where they carry dynamic loads or serve as vibration isolation elements.

However, in many cases such components are not explicitly represented in the damping models used during simulation and analysis. Instead, the workflow often simplifies the system behaviour by applying generalized modal damping values across the structure. While this approach reduces modelling complexity, it overlooks the actual dissipative contributions from rubber and plastic parts, leading to potential mismatches between simulated results and real test behaviour.

Job Description

The thesis project will be conducted at Traton R&D in Södertälje, in the simulation unit for powertrain durability – IC engines (TGRMSPI), in close collaboration with the engine strength testing group TGRPCBS. The test data will be made available, and the focus of the thesis will be on developing a simulation method.

The thesis project may be broken down into the following parts:

• Perform a comprehensive literature review of methods to estimate damping in systems with dissipative components (rubber bushings, plastic pipes, viscoelastic mounts).
• Assess the computational methods based on computation time, modelling time, etc.
• Perform dynamic simulations (preferably in Abaqus) on engine subcomponents to evaluate modal damping.
• Correlate the simulation results with available experimental data (e.g., modal test results) to validate the methods.
• Present the results of the master thesis in a comprehensive report as well as during an oral presentation at Traton R&D.

Education/program/focus

Your educational background: Currently pursuing a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering or similar, with a strong focus in structural dynamics and solid mechanics. Coursework relevant to the thesis is a must. Experience of working with tools like Hyperworks and solvers like Abaqus is a plus.

Number of students: 1

Start date for the thesis work: January 2026

Estimated time required: 20 weeks.

Contact persons and supervisor

Shivanand Ambalavanan, Unit Manager, shivanand.ambalavanan@se.traton.com   

Abhiroop Chatterjee, Thesis Supervisor, abhiroop.chatterjee@se.traton.com

Application:
Your application must include a CV and transcript of grades. Send in your applications at the earliest since we will have a continuous evaluation process.

A background check might be conducted for this position. We are conducting interviews continuously and may close the recruitment earlier than the date specified.

 Last Date for applications: 2025-11-10

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