Abstract
Keywords Reliability, Fatigue, Crack Initiation, B Models, Automotive
Abstract In the current paper a new model for random life prediction in the crack initiation phase is presented, using for that probabilistic finite elements (PFEM) and B models, developed by Bogdanoff and Kozin. These B models, usual in the treatment of data. However, these models have been built up in the current work by means of numerical results, obtained using probabilistic finite element calculations. For doing that, a thick plate probabilistic finite element has been implemented, based on the Reissner-Mindlin theory and using the perturbation approach, including all the formulation as a user subroutine of the commercial software ABAQUS. Random variables considered in the current work are Young Modulus, thickness and external loads.
The expressions used for life prediction are those proposed by Rambert-Osgood, Neuber, Coffin, Basquin and Manson, including in its formulation the consideration of random variables (cyclic material properties). All these developments have been applied to a real automotive braking component, with the aim of checking the influence of different manufacturing tolerances in the reliability of the product.