A Finite Element and Experimental Analysis of a Light Truck Leaf Spring System Subjected to Pre-Tension and Twist Loads

2005-01-3568

11/01/2005

Event
2005 SAE Commercial Vehicle Engineering Conference
Authors Abstract
Content
In this study the finite element method is used to simulate a light truck multi-leaf spring system and its interaction with a driven axle, u-bolts, and interface brackets. In the first part of the study, a detailed 3-D FE model is statically loaded by fastener pre-tension to determine stress, strain, and contact pressure. The FE results are then compared and correlated to both strain gage and interface pressure measurements from vehicle hardware test. Irregular contact conditions between the axle seat and leaf spring are investigated using a design of experiments (DOE) approach for both convex and discrete step geometries. In the second part of the study, the system FE model is loaded by both fastener pre-tension and external wheel end loads in order to obtain the twist motion response. Torsional deflection, slip onset, and subsequent slip motion at the critical contact plane are calculated as a function of external load over a range of Coulomb friction coefficients. The FE results are then compared to measured response from a similarly configured laboratory experiment.
Meta TagsDetails
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4271/2005-01-3568
Pages
12
Citation
Kirby, D., and Charniga, R., "A Finite Element and Experimental Analysis of a Light Truck Leaf Spring System Subjected to Pre-Tension and Twist Loads," SAE Technical Paper 2005-01-3568, 2005, https://doi.org/10.4271/2005-01-3568.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Nov 1, 2005
Product Code
2005-01-3568
Content Type
Technical Paper
Language
English