Component Fatigue Behaviors And Life Predictions Of A Steering Knuckle Using Finite Element Analysis
The paper describes a vehicle steering knuckle undergoing time-varying loadings during its service life. Fatigue behavior is, therefore, a key consideration in its design and performance evaluation. This paper is aimed to assess fatigue life and compare fatigue performance of steering knuckles made from three materials of different manufacturing processes. These include forged steel, cast aluminum, and cast iron knuckles. In light of the high volume of forged steel vehicle components, the forging process was considered as base for investigation. Static as well as baseline cyclic deformation and fatigue properties were obtained and compared. The paper envisages that in addition, referring a number of load-controlled fatigue component tests conducted for the forged steel and cast aluminum knuckles. Finite element models of the steering knuckles were also analyzed to obtain stress distributions in each component. Based on the results of component testing and finite element analysis, fatigue behaviors of the three materials and manufacturing processes are then compared. The paper concludes with that forged steel knuckle exhibits superior fatigue behavior, compared to the cast iron and cast aluminum knuckles.
A Fatigue Life Assessment Methodology For Automotive Components.
ABSTRACT In the automotive industry, most of the components are subjected in service to fatigue loading which may result in failures. In order to reduce design lead times and to assure a high reliability level of the parts, general procedures for durability assessment are developed. In this framework, this paper aims to present a fatigue life assessment methodology. Various factors are involved in the analysis: material fatigue data, multiaxial fatigue criteria, finite element method (FEM) calculations. A validation of this procedure was conducted via data generated from tests on a real current production component, namely a RENAULT Safrane suspension arm which was die cast from spheroidal graphite (SG) cast iron.
Using vehicle dynamics simulations and finite-element results to generate ffatigue life contours for chassis components
Abstract This paper reports on an analytical study of the fatigue life of automobile chassis components using automotive proving ground load history results combined with recent computational advances. This work advances our knowledge in two ways: a vehicle dynamics model is used to generate the history of the load vectors acting on the components and the element stress equivalencing procedure used until now is improved. We conclude that the combination of vehicle dynamics modelling, finite-element analysis and fatigue analysis is a viable technique for the design of automotive components. However, before our durability process can be suitable for applied engineering work a number of improvements are required, which we outline.