PSI - Issue 38

Ronald Schrank et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 38 (2022) 30–39 Ronald Schrank / Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2021) 000 – 000

33

4

3. Reference fatigue analysis The reference fatigue analysis simulates the full test and is carried out for the example of a control arm of a double wishbone wheel suspension. It is based on complex time-history with variable amplitude loading being given at all interface points, 36 load-channels in total. The full-field damage distribution over the entire surface of the control arm is the result of the reference fatigue analysis. Relevant damage hotspots are identified as the basis for the upcoming test simplification.

Fig. 4. Reference damages and hotspot identification (further hotspots exist but are not shown here).

4. Some classic strategies for manual test simplification 4.1. Load-channel reduction

36 load channels are given as reference, 6 load components (FX, FY, FZ, MX, MY, MZ) at each of the 6 interface points. Usually, moment components at the interface points have no relevant impact on fatigue damages and can be omitted. Other force components are reaction forces and, thus, dependent force components, in accordance with the support concept of the simplified test. They can be omitted too. Resulting from load-channel reduction, 11 independent load channels remain for further processing.

Fig. 5. 11 force components remain after Load-Channel reduction