Abstract
This article is divided into two parts—in the first part, authors inform about their testing device that enables the acquisition of results from uniaxial and multiaxial fatigue tests (the bending−torsion combination). We present the approaches used during designing and building the testing device. The direct implementation of the research in the second part will concentrate on implementing the acquired results for the frame design of a vehicle worked out by the authors. The three-wheeled vehicle has the front steered wheel suspended in an unconventional way. This original design can cause an increased load on the vehicle’s frame. This can be apparent mainly during driving through curves. Therefore, the fatigue curves of the tested material (EN AW 6063) will be implemented from the point of view of its usability in operation. A vehicle frame is most often loaded by bending and torsion. The authors assess the influence of welding on the fatigue life of this unique unconventional vehicle by determining the fatigue curves of the material for its production. The stresses achieved on the test specimens fully correspond to the load of the frame (in welds) during its operation.
Highlights
The frame is a very important part of a means of transport
The nonwelded specimen survived approximately a double number of cycles compared with the welded one. It means that the negative effect of welding on the fatigue life of the investigated material was shown again
The used cam had an eccentricity of e = 4 mm. In this case the difference of the fatigue life between the specimens was threefold larger in favour of the welded specimen
Summary
The frame is a very important part of a means of transport. It is the carrying and connecting element with the drivetrain, bodywork and other parts of the chassis, e.g., the suspension system, axles, etc. Its frame is manufactured from an aluminum alloy This new three-wheeled vehicle (Figure 1a) with a steered front wheel is designed to improve the driving properties, especially during driving through curves (Figure 1b) [25,26]. The authors designed a new testing device that helps solve the given problem These are especially the results for utilizing the commercial aluminum alloy EN AW 6063 and its welds during the fatigue process of uniaxial and multiaxial loading. That is why the authors have designed a special testing device (Figure 2) It enables the testing of specimens of the given structure material in a uniaxial way (by bending and torsion) and multiaxially with a combination of these loads [32]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
