Experimental and Numerical Testing of Ambient Temperature Impact on Lifespans of Cuffs of Vehicles’ Steering Systems

The steering system represents one of the most important systems of active safety in vehicles. The process of a steering system failure usually starts with the failure of its protective element (cuff). Numerous factors influence a cuff’s lifespan, but the research subject of this paper is the impact of ambient temperature. The goal of this research is the experimental verification of the finding that vehicles used in northern areas require more frequent interventions in their steering systems than vehicles used in the south. A simulator performing a motion similar to the work of a cuff during a vehicle’s motion was made for the purpose of the research. A refrigerating chamber where cuffs were tested at temperatures from −4 °C to −20 °C was also made. A numerical analysis, with the ANSYS software environment, was also carried out. The numerical analysis shows that the failure of a cuff could be expected at almost the same point at which it was experimentally proven. Therefore, the failure, namely the breaking of a cuff, is not only a consequence of the material’s fatigue due to a big number of oscillations, but it also depends upon the impact of ambient temperature where the vehicle is used.