Author : Ashish Thakur and Gebre-egziabher Aregawi

This paper presents failure analysis and modeling of the rear trailing arm case study at Mesfin Industrial Engineering, Ethiopia. Considering loading type as 1G, 2G and 3G bump load condition, the static and fatigue analysis were carried out using SOLIDWORKS simulation finite element analysis. The maximum von Mises stress and static factor of safety for existing rear trailing arm in 3G bump load condition were 537.5MPa and 0.44 respectively. The endurance limit of the component 180MPa is lower than the alternative stress of 268.67MPa. Due to less factor of safety, the existing rear trailing arm failed statically and dynamically. From the analysis of the result, St-52 was chosen over St-37. The von Mises stress and factor of safety under 3G bump load condition for St-52 were 128.1MPa and 2.77MPa respectively. Hence, the design is statically safe. Fatigue analysis was also carried out for the 3G bump load of modified design of Rear Trailing Arm made of St-37, St-44 and St- 52 material for thickness increased 2mm to 5 mm materials. The endurance limit of the component for St-52 is 315MPa which is greater than the alternative stress of 64MPa. The modified rear trailing arm is safe statically and dynamically both.

Keywords: Failure analysis, rear trailing arm, static analysis, fatigue analysis, von Mises stress

Article published in International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.9, No.1 (Jan/Feb 2019)