Title: Design and fatigue analysis of an aluminium alloy aerodynamic wheel

Authors: Róbert Huňady; Michal Fabian; Pavol Lengvarský; Albert Mareš; František Kupec

Addresses: Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia ' Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia ' Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia ' Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia ' Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Letná 9, 042 00 Košice, Slovakia

Abstract: The deployment of CAx systems has a great influence on the design of individual car components. One of the components that must meet not only aesthetic requirements but also strict safety criteria, guarantee mechanical integrity and have good aerodynamic properties, is a car wheel. Before production begins, wheels must undergo a series of numerical analyses as well as experimental tests. Based on these tests, design modifications are made so that the wheel meets the safety criteria in real operation. The aim of this paper is to present the wheel design process, including the simulation of the rotary bending test using finite elements method (FEM). The paper describes boundary conditions of the numerical model, the process of finite element mesh generation and the results of linear static analysis and fatigue analysis of an aerodynamic wheel.

Keywords: aerodynamic wheel; wheel design; CAD model; rotary-bending test; linear static analysis; fatigue analysis; FEM; finite elements method.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2021.117167

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2021 Vol.85 No.1, pp.97 - 113

Received: 09 May 2020
Accepted: 16 Jan 2021
Published online: 19 Aug 2021 *

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