Fatigue Assessment of CUB 110 Motorcycle Chassis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5944/ribim.29.2.45964Keywords:
Endurance, Fatigue, Chassis, MotorcycleAbstract
Following the occurrence of fatigue failures in CUB 110 motorcycle chassis manufactured in Argentina,
comprehensive studies have been conducted as part of a safety project aimed at establishing homologation
requirements that will impact local production control and component testing protocols. The absence of standardized specifications for motorcycle components, coupled with limited local engineering capabilities, presents significant challenges in the industry. This study employs a calibrated finite element model of the motorcycle-rider system to
calculate dynamic responses under various riding conditions. The primary challenge lies in accurate load determination, which requires analysing the fatigue life of the chassis across different road categories characterized by specific roughness parameters and driving speeds. These parameters are derived through limiting comfort and safety assumptions.
A similar analytical framework is applied to evaluate performance over deterministic road events, including
potholes, bumps, speed humps, and other traffic calming measures. The results demonstrate that operating the motorcycle on standard roads does not compromise fatigue life, even under extremely severe conditions. This conclusion applies to the standard CUB 110 chassis design utilizing locally sourced carbon steel grade 1010. However, intensive driving over deterministic road obstacles can significantly reduce the chassis fatigue life to only a few years. This
limitation can be mitigated by implementing SAE 1118 steel specifications, which provide adequate safety margins even under unusually harsh operating conditions. The findings provide critical insight for establishing appropriate material specifications and design requirements for motorcycle chassis manufacturing in Argentina, contributing to improved safety standards and regulatory frameworks for the local motorcycle industry.
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