Fatigue Analysis of a Fire Truck Drop Tow Hitch for an O1 Category Water Pump Trailer

Cosmin Roszkos^1, , Jozef Bocko¹ and Tomáš Kula¹

¹Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Košice, Košice, Slovakia

Cite this paper:
Cosmin Roszkos, Jozef Bocko and Tomáš Kula. Fatigue Analysis of a Fire Truck Drop Tow Hitch for an O1 Category Water Pump Trailer. American Journal of Mechanical Engineering. 2016; 4(7):312-319. doi: 10.12691/ajme-4-7-15

Abstract

This paper presents static and fatigue analyses of a fire truck drop tow hitch for an O1 category water pump trailer. In total 4 geometry variants with different features have been analyzed using the FEM. The loading forces have been calculated based on two different weights: the weight of the water pump trailer (the only trailer meant to be towed by the fire truck) and the category O1 gross trailer weight. Two different calculation methods were used: a calculation method recommended by the standard and a calculation method based on the physical breaking tests performed on the fire truck. The results of the performed analyses show the structural differences of the 4 geometry variants. The additional stiffening elements added to the base design have decreased the maximum deformation values, but the maximum stress and strain values have been raised especially in areas where stress concentrators are present.

Keywords:
drop tow hitch fatigue life finite element method loading force equivalent stress

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Figures

References:

[1]	Bader, Q., Kadum, E., “Mean stress correction effects on the fatigue life behavior of steel alloys by using stress life approach theories,” International Journal of Engineering & Technology IJET-IJENS, 14(04), 50-58, Aug. 2014.
[2]	Kosteas, D., “Fatigue behavior and analysis,” Talat lecture 2401, EAA – European Aluminium Association, 1994.
[3]	Senthil, K.M., Vijayaragan, S., “Analytical and experimental studies on fatigue life prediction of steel and composite multi-leaf spring for light passenger vehicles using life data analysis,” Materials Science (Medžiagotyra), 13(2), 141-146, May 2007.
[4]	Bhanage, A., Padmanabhan, K., “Design for fatigue and simulation of glass fiber/epoxy composite automobile leaf spring,” ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 9(3), 196-203, Mar. 2014.
[5]	Sonsino, C.M., Fricke, W., de Bruyne, F., Hoppe, A., Ahmadi, A., Zhang, G., “Notch stress concepts for the fatigue assessment of welded joints – Background and applications,” International Journal of Fatigue, 34, 2-16, May 2010.
[6]	Park, W., Miki, C., “Fatigue assessment of large-size welded joints based on the effective notch stress approach,” International Journal of Fatigue, 30, 1556-1568, Dec. 2007.
[7]	Shen, W., Yan, R., Barltrop, N., Liu, E., Song, L., “a method of determining structural stress for fatigue strength evaluation of welded joints based on notch stress strength theory,” International Journal of Fatigue, 90, 87-98, Apr. 2016.
[8]	N’Diaye, A., Hariri, S., Pluvinage, G., Azari, Z., “Stress concentration factor analysis for welded, notched tubular T-joints under combined axial, bending and dynamic loading,” International Journal of Fatigue, 31, 367-374, Aug. 2008.
[9]	Radaj, D., Sonsino, C.M., Fricke, W., “Recent developments in local concepts of fatigue assessment of welded joints,” International Journal of Fatigue, 31, 2-11, Jun. 2008.
[10]	Thévenet, D., Ghanameh, M.F., Zeghoul, A., “Fatigue strength assessment of tubular welded joints by an alternative structural stress approach,” International Journal of Fatigue, 51, 74-82, Feb. 2013.
[11]	Fricke, W., Paetzold, H., “Full-scale fatigue tests of ship structures to validate the S-N curve approaches for fatigue strength assessment,” Marine Structures, 23, 115-130, Jan. 2010.
[12]	Fricke, W., von Lilienfeld-Toal, A., Paetzold, H., “Fatigue strength investigations of welded details of stiffened plate structures in steel ships,” International Journal of Fatigue, 34, 17-26, Feb. 2011.
[13]	Aygül, M., Al-Emrani, M., Urushadze, S., “Modeling and fatigue life assessment of orthotropic bridge deck details using FEM,” International Journal of Fatigue, 40, 129-142, Dec. 2011.
[14]	Agrawal, M.S., “Finite element analysis of truck chassis frame,” International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET), 2(3), 1949-1956, Jun. 2015.
[15]	Rahman, R.A., Tamin, M.N., Kurdi, O., “Stress analysis of heavy duty truck chassis as a preliminary data for its fatigue life prediction using FEM,” Jurnal Mekanikal, 26, 76-58, Dec. 2008.
[16]	Ullman, D.G., The mechanical design process - Second edition, The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., Oregon, 314-324.
[17]	Ansys version 16.2 Material database
[18]	IRS ISO 3853: Jan. 1997, Road vehicle coupling device to tow caravans or light trailers- Mechanical strength test.
[19]	Maurya, A.K., Bokare, P.A., “Study of deceleration behavior of different vehicle types,” International Journal for Traffic and Transport Engineering, 2(3), 253-270, Jul. 2012.
[20]	Camara, M., Bonanno, A., Sapia, P., “Revisiting work-energy theorem’s implications,” European Journal of Physics, 28, 1181-1187, Oct. 2007.