Validation of the complex wheel/hub assembly has been carried out in the Biaxial Wheel/Hub Test Facility since the early ‘1980’s, developed at Fraunhofer LBF. This test procedure was applied as standard at most of the European vehicle producers and wheel suppliers and was also introduced as SAE wheel standard J 2562, for wheels of passenger cars, issued in 2003.
By extensive test series and investigations a suitable load file has been developed which is able to create fatigue failures and damages on wheel bearings, comparable to real service failures within an acceptable testing time and so far to prove their operational durability. The load program is based on the existing test program for durability approval of wheels and hubs, simulating different driving sections such as straight ahead driving, cornering and, if required, off-road driving and braking operations.
The influence of different load programs on the bearing damage is described in this paper.
Finally, a new bearing test rig is presented which is based on the Biaxial Wheel Test Rig, but without using the tires for testing. Load files for bearing tests, developed by the German car producers on the “Eurocycle” basis can be simulated as well as special programs for high-performance sport cars.