Computer Aided Design and Simulation of Radial Fatigue Test of Automobile Rim Using ANSYS

Abstract

A finite element based method is used to simulate the radial test of an automobile wheel. Besides the certainty of results obtain through practical, computer aided simulation of the wheel, using ANSYS replicates the actual experiments. The fatigue life limit factors introduced by other researchers were used to obtain the stress and fatigue reduction factors which were further used to estimate the S-N curve as the stress-Life method is employed in predicting the fatigue life of a rim.During the static analysis of the steel wheel, it was discovered that the maximum stress concentration () occurred at the spokes and ventilation hole of the rim under loads, Fr and pi. It was observed that when the wheel rotates at a speed of 1790 rpm under the stated loads, the fatigue crack propagates at the point of maximum stress concentration.