Cumulative Fatigue Damage Analysis of a Light Truck Frame

A case study describes a fatigue damage analysis of a light truck frame. The objective of the analysis is to determine whether an existing frame design can safely accept a ten percent increase in load. The analysis, completed in less than a month, incorporates an experimental stress-strain analysis, proving ground test data and experimentally determined properties of the frame material. Three common methods of damage analysis and a relatively new procedure are compared and the advantages of the new method are demonstrated.