Wheel rim analysis in Mechanica

[maxeng]

i am triying to do an analysis on a car's sport rim. i want to analyze the bending moment, tensile stress, radial loading and impact load on the rim.


How am i going to simplified the model and where/what constraints and loading should i apply on the rim?

 

[lindejos]

As far as a simplifed rep goes, that's a tough question. For every little cut you knock out you will be ignoring stress concentrations. I suggest you look up Roger Toogood's "Pro/MECHANICA Tutorial on Structure," by SDC publishing. It has an interesting discussion about the differences between a CAD model and an FEA model.


As far as your constraints go you should try to make it as real as possible. There will be a constraint at the hub, a frictional load around the outer rim, etc. Try to make the constraints what they would be in a real situation. Run a quick pass analysis first to check that the model will solve and then compare and contrast what you believe will be the constraints.


THEN TEST IT!!! FEA is great but can often be wrong because the user has mad assumptions. There is no substitute for a rosette strain gauge, or a dyno, or a load cell, etc.

 

[Natewebb]

You may find it helpfull to create a cylindrical coordinate system to create constraints with. Since rubber is very non-linear, you will have to make some approximations on how the rim interacts with the tire.