Structural Dynamic Response of a Track Chain Complete Undercarriage System using Virtual Proving Ground Approach

ITM Group Engineering Department uses advanced tools as finite element method for static structural analyses of undercarriages, side frames or undercarriage components, as track chain, rollers and tension devices. In order to integrate the recent prototype concepts into this design process combining full system real time dynamic simulations able to represent a typical situation due to operation manoeuvre, experimental test information and 30 years experience of ITM group, a new design procedure is proposed to design and to develop complete undercarriage systems. This paper focuses on the employ of the explicit finite element code LS-DYNA® for predicting reliably the structural behavior of a track chain undercarriage system during usual road obstacles impacts and on the following fatigue life damage analyses of undercarriage (frame components using eta/VPG concept and tools. Part of activity is also developed to investigate how the new simulation procedure could be implemented into ITM Group Engineering Department for increasing design chain efficiency. While the big technical challenge is related to model representation of particular components and to the application of standard operating conditions. Stress and strain field results for full structure and its components are presented and fatigue life of frame principal component is determined and its integrity is evaluated. Finally merits and limits analysis is made in term of quality simulation results, numerical model complexity, design procedure efforts and computational time consuming in comparison to ITM Group Engineering Department experiences.