Methodology for a whole analysis of the fatigue behaviour on automotive components

Abstract

Nowadays, the great improvement in finite element methodology development has changed the way of solving fatigue problems. The automotive world is not out of this development. In this paper a methodology to make a whole analysis of the fatigue behaviour on several automotive components is described. In order to get this aim it is used a feed back circle between the FEM simulation and the experimental results. The basic schedule for this analysis consists on making a statical study with unitary loads over the component, this step is made with a finite element code. If the geometry or load make necessary to mesh a submodel of the most critical zone in order to know more accurately the location and distribution of stress concentration it will be done. In order to make the fatigue simulation with the finite elements method three main inputs are necessary: First of them is the strain state obtained from the statical analysis. The second one is the curve describing the strain-life behaviour of the material considered. The last input is the temporal signal beared by the component. At the same time experimental testing is made in order to validate the results from the simulation.