Numerical analysis of wheel cornering fatigue tests

In automotive engineering, the wheels are one of the most critical componen ts and their function is of vital importance n human safety. The cornering fatigue test is one of the traditional durability tests for wheel prototype verification. In this paper, a bi-axial load-notch strain approximation fo r proportional loading is proposed to estimate the fatigue life of a passen ger car wheel during the cornering fatigue test under plane stress conditio ns. The elastoplastic strain components are calculated analytically using t he total deformation theory of plasticity. The input for the load-notch str ain analysis is the measured or calculated plastic strain state at the notc h together with the materials stabilised cyclic stress-strain curve evaluat ed with unnotched tension specimens. The damage accumulation is based on th e Palmgren-Miner rule. The methodology is implemented in a program called " Metal Fatigue Prediction and Analysis" (MFPA). The life prediction of a pas senger car wheel during the cornering fatigue test is performed. The result s of the analysis is compared with two cornering tests on the same design. The result is very encouraging and the application of the developed MFPA. p rogram provides time and the cost savings in the analysis of wheel cornerin g fatigue tests. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.