Title: Durability assessment of large automotive body structures using Fatigue Life Analysis Procedure (FLAP)

Authors: Hari Agrawal, Ravindran Gopalakrishnan, Cliff Rivard

Addresses: Advanced Engineering Department, Body Engineering, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan 48121, USA. ' Advanced Engineering Department, Body Engineering, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan 48121, USA. ' Advanced Engineering Department, Body Engineering, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan 48121, USA

Abstract: Analytical methods, using stress-influence coefficients and load-time histories, are being used in the automotive industries to predict the fatigue life of various structures. This paper describes and demonstrates enhancement and automation of this technology for use on a supercomputer, such as a CRAY-YMP. The procedure, called |Fatigue Life Analysis Procedure| (FLAP), is applicable to small as well as large finite element body model systems. The procedure consists of obtaining stress-influence coefficients, filtering load-time history, selecting critical elements and calculating their fatigue life. Several correlation studies have been completed and the results have been discussed. The procedure has been successfully applied to various automotive body structures both at the sub-system and full body level.

Keywords: automotive body structures; durability assessment; fatigue life analysis procedure; FLAP; finite element method; FEM; modelling; stress analysis; vehicle powertrain.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.1994.062529

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 1994 Vol.7 No.3/4/5/6, pp.250 - 270

Published online: 09 Jun 2014 *

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