A Finite Element approach for prediction of fatigue life for a three-piece mining vehicle wheel. (11th May 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vijayan, V.; Altenhof, W.; Banting, R.
• Is Part Of: International journal of heavy vehicle systems. Volume 17:Number 2(2010)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 178
• Publication Date: 2010-05-11
• Subjects: three-piece mining wheels -- FEM -- finite element method -- SAE J1992 -- wheel cornering fatigue tests -- fatigue analysis -- fatigue safety actor -- strain -- simulation -- modelling -- multiaxial fatigue failure -- wheel wear -- wheel degradation; Motor vehicles -- Design and construction -- Periodicals; Commercial vehicles -- Design and construction -- Periodicals; Motor vehicles -- Design and construction; Periodicals; 629.224
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-232X

Abstract

Numerical estimation of the mechanical performance of a three-piece mining wheel under fatigue loading was completed. Experimental investigations were performed with a static bending loading, similar to the SAE J1992 protocol, and a Finite Element (FE) model of the experimental apparatus was developed and simulated under similar loading. Experimentally observed strains from positions on the wheel were used to validate the FE model. The model predicted strains, for the majority of locations, within 15% error in comparison to experimental results. Numerical analyses of the SAE J1992 fatigue loading condition were performed on the validated model. Predictions from these simulations were used to calculate the element-based fatigue factor of safety utilising multiaxial fatigue failure theories. The analysis predicted an infinite fatigue life for the mining wheel which contradicts in-field observations associated with fatigue failures. This difference is attributed to the wear and degradation of the wheel as a result of environmental effects and localised damage imparted during operation.