FATIGUE LIFE IMPROVEMENT OF ANTIROLL BAR BRACKET USED IN HEAVY TRUCK SUSPENSION

Finite element analysis has been used widely in automotive industry to evaluate design alternatives. Especially when there is no prototype part for rig testing; CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) is the only tool to evaluate design whether it meets customer usage profile for the vehicles entire life. Antiroll bar bracket is used in heavy truck suspension which is mounted on the top of front axle & beneath the leaf spring squeezed with U bolts. Bracket has two attachment points for external loadings; antiroll bar & shock absorber. Modeling techniques used in finite element for stress analysis include assembly loads in addition to the external loads. Material & contact nonlinearities have been used for stress estimation. Alternative design is used to decrease stress level; and therefore increase fatigue life of the bracket. Rig testing has been used to determine fatigue life of bracket. Results for finite element & rig testing have been presented.