Design and fatigue analysis of an aluminium alloy aerodynamic wheel

The deployment of CAx systems has a great influence on the design of individual car components. One of the components that must meet not only aesthetic requirements but also strict safety criteria, guarantee mechanical integrity and have good aerodynamic properties, is a car wheel. Before production begins, wheels must undergo a series of numerical analyses as well as experimental tests. Based on these tests, design modifications are made so that the wheel meets the safety criteria in real operation. The aim of this paper is to present the wheel design process, including the simulation of the rotary bending test using finite elements method (FEM). The paper describes boundary conditions of the numerical model, the process of finite element mesh generation and the results of linear static analysis and fatigue analysis of an aerodynamic wheel.