Fatigue assessment of rear axle under service loading histories considering the strengthening and damaging effects of loads below fatigue limit

Accurately predicting the fatigue life is the basis for the reliability and lightweight design of automobile parts. However, the predicted lives under service loadings on the basis of the S-N curve from constant amplitude loads from existing methods often seems conservative compared with real lives, because of ignoring the strengthening effect of loads below fatigue limit. In this paper, a fatigue damage model, which is modification of Miner’s Rule, was established for the fatigue assessment under service loadings by means of taking into account the strengthening and damaging effects of loads below fatigue limit. Then this model and conventional Miner’s Rule are applied to the estimate the fatigue life of a torsion beam rear axle using the loading history recorded on proving ground. Finally, verification tests are performed on MTS road load simulator test bed. Results of predicted lives and fatigue tests demonstrate that the accuracy of the predicted life could be greatly improved by taking into account the strengthening and damaging effect of loads below fatigue limit.