Simulation of Vibration Fatigue for Brake Shield

This paper describes the use of a frequency based fatigue calculation to evaluate the fatigue life of a brake shield subjected to a dynamic load, where the loading and response are categorized using Power Spectral Density (PSD) functions. Traditionally fatigue damage is associated with time dependent loading, usually in the form of stress or strain. However, there are many design scenarios when the loading, or fatigue damage process, cannot easily be defined using time signals. In these cases the design engineer usually has to use a test based approach to evaluate the fatigue life of his component. In this study the brake shield is tested on shaker table using PSD loads as per SSTS. The FE approach is correlated with the physical test. The design is optimized and analyzed in FE to ensure it satisfies the design requirements thus reducing the product development cycle. The proposed analysis technique is capable of determining premature products failure phenomena and therefore can reduce cost, product development time and improve product durability.