Problems in assessing the durability of a selected vehicle component based on the accelerated proving ground test

Abstract

The paper presents the results of the analysis of the durability of elastic elements occurring in the special-purpose 4x4 off-road truck suspension using data obtained during an accelerated proving ground test conducted during off-road driving. The limitations in access to material data present at the stage of the initial selection of the component (lack of fatigue strength data) are indicated and an alternative analytical method for fatigue strength estimation is given. The differences in the obtained results and their most important sources are pointed out. A method for using a generalized durability index d as a parameter independent of the subassembly material data is also described. The indicator can be used to assess the influence of resultant loads (recorded) appearing during the vehicle operation in the determined road conditions on the durability of the subassembly under study and to associate their value with the type of the test road section.