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Damages (fracture) in metals are caused by material degradation due to crack initiation and growth due to fatigue or dynamic loadings. The accurate and realistic modeling of an inelastic behavior of metals is essential for the solution of various problems occurring in engineering fields. Currently, various theories and failure models are available to predict the damage initiation and the growth in metals. In this paper, the failure of aluminum alloy is studied using progressive damage and failure material model using Abaqus explicit solver. This material model has the capability to predict the damage initiation due to the ductile and shear failure. After damage initiation, the material stiffness is degraded progressively according to the specified damage evolution response. The progressive damage models allow a smooth degradation of the material stiffness, in both quasi-static and dynamic situations.

During the service life, the impacts of vehicle against potholes result in damage for the wheel and suspension components. Knowing the internal forces generated in the suspension components during this event would helpful to design the critical components. Measurement of these loads in physical test is more costly and not feasible for new designs. There are several virtual tools and methods available to predict the loads during this event. Using the ABAQUS FE solver, the non-linear dynamic behavior could be captured accurately during the impact. The tire model plays an important role during this event by absorbing energy during the impact. The CAE tire model is validated with some physical tests results and it is used in the vehicle pothole impact simulation. In vehicle pothole physical test, the force and acceleration measurement are taken and compared with the CAE results. The effect of the tire pressure variations and the vehicle speed at pothole impact is also studied.

A snap-fit is a form-fitting joint, which is used to assemble plastic parts together. Snap-fits are available in different forms like a projecting clip, thicker section or legs in one part, and it is assembled to another part through holes, undercuts or recesses. The main function of the snap-fit is to hold the mating components, and it should withstand the vibration and durability loads. Snap-fits are easy to assemble, and should not fail during the assembling process. Based on the design, these joints may be separable or non-separable. The non- separable joints will withstand the loads till failure, while separable joints will withstand only for the design load. The insertion and the retention force calculation for the snaps are very essential for snap-fit design. The finite element analysis plays a very important role in finding the insertion and the retention force values, and also to predict the failure of the snaps and the mating components during this process.

An automotive cockpit module is a complex assembly, which consists of components and sub-systems. The critical systems in the cockpit module are the instrument panel (IP), the floor console, and door trim assemblies, which consist of many plastic trims. Stiffness is one of the most important parameters for the plastic trims' design, and it should be optimum to meet all the three functional requirements of safety, vibration and durability. This paper presents how the CAE application and various other techniques are used efficiently to predict the stiffness, and the strength of automotive cockpit systems, which will reduce the product development cycle time and cost. The implicit solver is used for the most of the stiffness analysis, and the explicit techniques are used in highly non-linear situations. This paper also shows the correlations of the CAE results and the physical test results, which will give more confidence in product design and reduce the cost of prototype testing.

The Radial fatigue test is intended to find the structural performance of a wheel for normal highway use on passenger cars, light trucks and multipurpose vehicles. The wheel has to withstand repeated radial loading for a defined number of cycles in order to pass the test. The fatigue life of a wheel subjected to the repeated loading is calculated from the stress values obtained from static analysis. The accuracy of stress value depends on various parameters like tire modeling, simulation methods, load applications etc. This paper describes the tire finite element model representation and its validation, radial fatigue test simulation process and the physical testing correlation. Tire vertical stiffness plays a vital role in the radial test as the tire transfers the load from driven drum to the wheel. Tire vertical spring rate testing is done as per the SAE J2704 standard and the same condition has been simulated in CAE.

Airdam is an aerodynamic component in automobile and is designed to reduce the drag and increase fuel efficiency. It is also an important styling component. The front airdam below the bumper is to direct the air flow away from the front tires and towards the underbody, where the drag coefficient becomes less. The flexible airdam is made of Santoprene™ - thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV), which belongs to thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) family. When a vehicle is parked over a parking block, the flexible airdam will be under strain subjected to bending load from the parking block. If the airdam is kept under constant strain for a certain period, a set will occur and the force will decay over a period of time. Due to the force decay, the stress will reduce and this behavior is called as stress relaxation.