Title: An overview of numerical methodologies for durability assessment of vehicle and transport structures

Authors: Johann Wannenburg, P. Stephan Heyns

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa. ' Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract: Numerical methodologies for assessing the durability of vehicle and transport structures are reviewed. These methodologies are mapped in terms of a framework that emphasises the relationships among them. Load inputs are obtained from either measurements or simulation. These loads are used as inputs into stress analyses, which may be either quasi-static or dynamic, and either in the time domain or in the frequency domain. The outputs of these analyses can be then used in fatigue analyses. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are analysed. A case study is described to demonstrate the insights gained from the mapping framework.

Keywords: durability assessment; fatigue analysis; input loading; vehicle design; vehicle structures; transport structures; stress analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVSMT.2010.033732

International Journal of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing, 2010 Vol.5 No.1, pp.72 - 101

Received: 30 Apr 2009
Accepted: 20 Dec 2009
Published online: 29 Jun 2010 *

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