Title: Experimental fatigue fracture analysis of a diesel engine crankshaft used in a truck

Authors: Osman Asi

Addresses: Engineering Faculty, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Usak University, 64200, Usak, Turkey

Abstract: This paper presents the failure analysis of a diesel engine crankshaft used in a truck. An evaluation of the failed crankshaft was undertaken to assess its integrity. This included a visual examination, photo documentation, chemical analysis, micro-hardness measurement, tensile testing, and metallographic examination. The failure zones were examined with the help of a scanning electron microscope equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis facility. Results indicate that fatigue was the dominant mechanism of failure of the crankshaft. Fatigue cracks were initiated at the highly stressed surface of the crankpin-web fillet region and propagated across the section as a result of cyclic loading.

Keywords: truck crankshafts; fatigue cracks; fracture; induction hardening; failure analysis; diesel engines; trucks; crankshaft failure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2009.027412

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2009 Vol.16 No.4, pp.403 - 411

Published online: 22 Jul 2009 *

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