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The objective of this work is to find cumulative fatigue damage of the truck cabin caused by proving ground data. Stresses in the cabin are derived by finite element analysis using inertia relief method. Multi body simulation software ADAMS was used to obtain the load history at cabin attachment points using measured proving ground data as input. The fatigue damage of the truck cabin was estimated by linear super position method with static results and load history. The calculated numerical fatigue damage results were compared with physical test results and correlated.

Evaluation of vehicle structural durability is one of the key requirements in design and development process of commercial vehicles. Computer simulations are used to estimate vehicle durability because of its cost advantage and reduction in lead time to launch the product. The objective of this work is to find the service life of the passenger commercial vehicle (Bus) by calculating cumulative fatigue life in operation under actual road conditions. Chassis and superstructure were considered for this exercise. Measured road load data at vehicle wheel centers were used for performing multi-body simulation in ADAMS to extract load histories at attachment points. Modal transient response analysis is performed using MSC-Nastran with the extracted load time history. Strain based fatigue life analysis is carried out in MSC-Fatigue using modal superposition method (MSM). The estimated chassis and superstructure fatigue life is compared with the physical test results.

Truck chassis assembly forms the structural backbone of a heavy commercial vehicle. The main function of the truck chassis is to support the aggregate components and payload acting on it during operating conditions. The chassis is subjected to vertical loading (Bump), fore and aft loading (braking and acceleration), lateral loading (Cornering) and torsional loading (Articulation). Out of the above load cases, the vertical load (bump load) decides the maximum load carrying capacity of the chassis when the vehicle traverses uneven surfaces. This paper explains the importance of theoretical bending stress calculation of truck frame side member (FSM) subjected to vertical load which will help the designer to arrive at the major section of FSM during initial stage of the design. Different concept proposals of FSM can be evaluated using these calculations quickly.

Evaluation of vehicle structural durability is one of the key requirements in design and development of today's automobiles. Computer simulations are used to estimate vehicle durability to save the cost and time required for building and testing the prototype vehicles. The objective of this work was to find the service life of automotive structures like passenger commercial vehicle (bus) and truck's cabin by calculating cumulative fatigue life for operation under actual road conditions. Stresses in the bus and cabin are derived by means of performing finite element analysis using inertia relief method. Multi body dynamics simulation software ADAMS was used to obtain the load history at the bus and cabin mount locations - using measured load data as input. Strain based fatigue life analysis was carried out in MSC-Fatigue using static stresses from Nastran and extracted force histories from ADAMS. The estimated fatigue life was compared with the physical test results.