Development of Block Cycle Test Load for Structural Durability Validation of MacPherson Strut

The MacPherson strut is a simple and common across all automotive’s front suspension of passenger cars. It is an independent suspension type, including a single suspension arm (spring and damper), an anti-roll bar and a lower arm. The MacPherson strut must have sufficient stiffness to support cornering force and fore/aft loads. Fatigue test of MacPherson strut suspension can be done in multiple ways. Most common method is laboratory testing/rig test. The objective of laboratory testing is to validate the MacPherson strut physically for all possible real-time events. Replicating all real-time events in lab environment is a challenging task. For many years this limitation was addressed through experience, however it has often led to either over or inferior design. The expected life span of automotive components like MacPherson strut varies considerably but it can be measurable in years/miles. It becomes virtually challenging to prove the product under service conditions over its whole design life. Hence, it becomes necessary to depend on accelerated testing methods to predict long-term performance and brings out feebleness in the structure in a very minimal time, compared to the time required for proving ground tests or physical component testing in the laboratory with real time load.