Accelerated Fatigue Tests of BS 080A42 Steel Using the WBE Mission Loadings

摘要

This paper describes the laboratory accelerated fatigue tests of BS 080A42 steel using the shortened variable amplitude (VA) loading produced by the Wavelet Bump Extraction (WBE) algorithm. In this study, a VA strain loading which was measured on the lower suspension arm of a vehicle while driven over a pave road surface was used. The WBE shortened loading was validated based on the fatigue life comparison to the original loading using four strain-life fatigue damage models. Experimental fatigue tests were performed using a cylindrical shape specimen with the 6-mm gauge length smooth surface made from BS 080A42 steel. The experimental findings showed that the fatigue tests were accelerated from 78.8 hours to 32.5 hours, preserving at least 99% of the original fatigue damage in the mission loadings. Finally, it is suggested that the WBE algorithm is suitable for the application of automotive accelerated fatigue tests.