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Improving fuel economy and reducing emissions is becoming critical for future vehicles which will be lighter and faster. This demands, future engines to cater two contradictory requirements, one is high power density engine and other is lightweight compact engine design. This would require rigorous and accurate structural evaluation to achieve optimum design. Downsizing the engine is best way to achieve these goals. Three cylinder diesel engine is best suited for achieving high power and performance. It brings in challenges of design complexity due to need of balancer shaft for three cylinder engine. Bedplate evaluation becomes difficult due to design complexity induced by integration of Cast Iron inserts in Aluminum bedplate and packaging of balancer shaft. Also manufacturing process involved, operating temperatures, high combustion pressures increase the difficulties.

In the current scenario of growing demand for lightweight designs for improving fuel economy and reduced cost, the focus is on optimum design solutions. This calls for improved and accurate prediction capabilities in terms of life or cycles the design can sustain in real world usage profile. Conventionally, the differential casings are simulated and designed for worst loads experienced and the approach used is infinite life design for these loads. But, this would lead to overdesign and increase weight. To counter this problem the methodology for fatigue analysis for the derived duty cycle of differential casing is developed. The critical regions can be identified based on life and the solutions can be worked out without major design changes. This paper briefs the nonlinear static load cases required for deriving the block cycle loading and incorporating these as a duty cycle in fatigue solver.