Failure prediction of rear axle of a three wheeler vehicle by dynamic analysis: Computational approach

Abstract

The rear axle shaft is the critical component of any vehicle as it receives torque by engine. It is placed inside the housing. The failure of rear axle is predicted on the basis of failure of housing in the work. The modal analysis in ANSYS environment is performed to predict the failure. The resonant frequency of housing and rear axle shaft is found in harmony for order 1 vertical vibration, order 1 vertical bending vibration, order 2 vertical bending vibration and order 3 vertical bending + order 1 torsional vibration. Vertical bending and torsional type vibration is found more dangerous (frequency 653.74 Hz and deformation 56.567 mm) for rear axle shaft. Fatigue analysis at constant amplitude loading and variable amplitude loading is also performed in ANSYS environment to predict the trend of failure of rear axle shaft close to realistic situation. The shaft is found more reliable and safe under 25–30% of maximum load (corresponding to engine maximum torque).