Methods for improving the operational reliability of a car windshield

Abstract

Abstract Windshields of motor vehicles bear various loads due to their position and design. The rocks on the road exert destructive impacts onto the windshield creating critical stress as a result of the impact. This causes cracks and chipping in the material, which has negative influence on the visibility and the operational safety. The analysis of strength characteristics of windshields made it possible to detect the zones contacting with the vehicle body that are most subject to cracking. In order to protect these windshield zones, an alternative method was developed consisting in the use of a protective cover plate. The advantage of this cover is its small size, which simplifies its installation and makes it possible to only protect the zones where the windshield is fixed in the vehicle body, so its service life can be greatly increased. Using the software complex Ansys the windshield was modelled and the protective cover plate was tested for a particular vehicle, its material and manufacturing method was estimated. The analysis of compliance of the cover plate size with the normative requirements for windshields made it possible to draw the conclusion that the cover plate does not obstruct the vision. The experimental results for aggressive environments made it possible to draw the conclusion that such protective cover plate has a long service life. As the research showed, the service life of the new protective cover is at least a year if recommendations for installation and operation have been observed.