In this study, we changed the existing S45C steel shafts applied to the drive shaft for power train of automotive to Al7003-T6 aluminum material. For this purpose, the optimal inner diameter of the aluminium shaft is established. And, analysis of the stresses and vibration characteristics of shafts were analyzed through finite element analysis. The final aluminum drive shaft was evaluated through the static torsional torque test and the frequency test. The Al7003-T6 aluminum drive shaft's weight is 67% comparing from 100% of shaft with existing steel, and with the performance of 3,276 N-m and 236 Hz, it satisfies requirements of the torsional torque of 3,000 N-m and vibration characteristic over 150 Hz required for drive shaft.

A system approach for studying the engine dynamic characteristics requires a cranktrain flexible body dynamic model including crankshaft, connecting rod and piston. By using a multi-body dynamics code, LMS Virtual Lab, rigid body dynamic model and flexible multi-body dynamic model were established. From these models, the dynamic loads acting on the crankshaft were calculated. Rigid model for V12 engine cranktrain with components connected by kinematical constraints was transformed into a flexible model by replacing rigid crankshaft and connecting rods with flexible ones. And to secure the credibility of flexible body model, three kinds of flexible models were tried, i.e. a model with a fully flexible crankshaft, model with a partially flexible crankshaft(1/6 of the whole length), and a partial detailed flexible model(with finer meshes). The results from each model were compared, and a partial detailed model with finer meshes was found to give reasonable stress values within relatively short period of computing time.