Optimisation of Component Design by Fatigue Analysis and Testing

摘要: Component development in the ground vehicle industry follows an iterative loop of design-manufacture-test-re-design. function, material and process selection durability are all successively optimised each time component moves around loop. Recent trends automotive have been towards increasing involvement computers at stage process. Computer Aided Design Manufacture already reached a mature stage, last ten years fatigue research has succeeded developing techniques for analytical life assessment test which no less dominated by computer. Early attempts to develop computer based prediction packages (1,2,3) were extremely specialist, usable only expert not available general designer. In past 10–15 years, significant progress made. Recently low cost package marketed, on floppy disc (4). theory least, it brings whole design within reach any engineer with micro hand. Looking ahead just little way is possibility systems design, will encapsulate knowledge expertise (5).