Centerlink FEA
- Leif Blake
Fixtures
On one side, the centerlink is supported by a virtual wall, shown below (compression-only support). A radial fixture is applied to the inside face of the bolt clearance hole.
On the other side, a clamping force is applied to a split face representing the bolt head, as well as a radial support on the hole. These fixtures are the same on either end of the centerlink.
Forces
External Force | Value | Direction |
|---|---|---|
Clamping forces | 10kN for each bolt | normal to face |
Outside cornering force | 925N | 5deg from x-axis |
Inside cornering force | 275 | 11deg from x-axis |
The loads from the tie rods are applied to split faces on the centerlink (where the bolt head makes contact). A clamping force is also applied, and a mock spacer is inserted to simulate the support from the spherical bearing and spacers.
Results
The results of the FEA show that the part passes with a safety factor greater than 2. It is worth noting that support is needed for all 4 bolts inside the tube. A lack of support results in greater stress.