APLICACIÓN DE UNA NOVEDOSA METODOLOGÍA EN EL DISEÑO DE UN SEMIRREMOLQUE DE CUELLO REDUCIDO

Abstract

Until recently, the design of new models of semitrailer has been performed based on the experience of the manufacturers of such vehicles. In the last five years the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Zaragoza has developed a novel methodology for the semitrailers design. This methodology combines numerical analysis based on the Finite Element Method and experimental techniques in bench testing for semi-trailers. The methodology developed allows obtain new designs of semi-trailers, which have been optimized fulfilling to criteria of rigidity, resistance and fatigue. In addition the application of this methodology in the design of new vehicles reduces the necessary time to launch onto the market the new models of semitrailers. The objective of this article is to apply the developed methodology in the design of a new model of semi-trailer, specifically in a semitrailer with a reduction of the web height of the longitudinal beams on the King-pin area. This new design stems from the interest of the company LECITRAILER to standardize the components of the King-pin area in several models of semi-trailers.

Keywords: design; fatigue; rigidity and resistance; semitrailer; MEF; experimental test