Title: Combined thermoelastic and photoelastic stress analysis of an automotive front suspension link

Authors: A.L. Audenino, P.M. Calderale

Addresses: Dipartimento di Meccanica, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin, Italy. ' Dipartimento di Meccanica, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Turin, Italy

Abstract: By means of full field experimental stress analysis only a combination of principal stresses can be obtained. In this paper the photoelastic and thermoelastic stress analysis techniques have been applied and integrated in order to obtain the two principal stresses and their relative directions. For this aim a complex mechanical component has been studied: the lower arm of a front automotive suspension. The combined use of strain gauge analysis provided information on both the applicability of the method and the precision of the measurements.

Keywords: full field techniques; photoelastic stress analysis; principal surface stresses; strain gauge analysis; thermoelastic stress analysis; automotive suspension; front suspension link; vehicle suspension.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.1996.036337

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 1996 Vol.11 No.5/6, pp.345 - 356

Published online: 02 Nov 2010 *

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