Challenge
A better understanding and prediction of the fatigue performance of steels is critical if material reduction and energy efficiency targets are to be met in the automotive industry. A major steel manufacturer is carrying extensive research looking at how processing impacts the mechanical behavior of steel sheet used for chassis, suspension or wheel components. The manufacture wants to demonstrate to its customers the advantage of using specific steel grades, simply, helping the manufactures pick the right materials.
Solution
ICE-Flow DesignLife interfaces with FE packages - simply - allowing steel consumers to link fatigue analysis with existing FE processes. Complex geometries and processing - such as stamping and cutting impact fatigue life - and DesignLife takes into account the main variables involved in the simulation; such as residual stress field, plastic strains, dynamic stresses, thickness and material variations. Using DesignLife the steel manufacturer can demonstrate the fatigue life impact of various grades and processes to the end user.
Benefits
DesignLife delivers a simple to use, but powerful fatigue analysis system that is today helping develop recommendations for reducing vehicle weight, whilst retaining fatigue life and structural integrity.