Abstract
The main characteristic of kart is its simplicity, yet its design and adjustment can be more complicated than a standard automobile. In fact kart is a specific type vehicles without suspension system, differential, asymmetric position of engine and driver, and special kind of brake system.
Because of the absence of differential the back wheel rises up while turning. Due to centrifugation severe lateral forces are produced in wheels. These forces effect on steering system linkages and result in stress.
We made a model of kart in Visual Nastran and move it around a curve cornering radius equals with 15 meter and speed equal with 40 km/h. One of performed studies in this software is determining dependence among steering wheel angles and displacement of outer front wheel while cornering.
We use forces applied on spindle in finite element model in MSC/Patran so we can attain the stress value developed in steering system parts. In order to validate stress analysis result, we perform the same analysis by Visual Nastran software.
After loading and calculating of stresses we find out that stress doesn’t exceed from allowable amount in most of steering system parts such as stub axle, steering axle, joints, etc. but maximum value of stress is in steering pivot equal with 3.24*109 and this is more than allowable stress. In order to decrees stress, this part must be reinforced .thus we use from a sheet metal with 5 millimeter thickness instead of the sheet with 1.5 millimeters thickness for manufacturing mentioned part.
Keywords: kart, steering system, spindle, dynamic loads, MSC Nastran/Patran