Static, fatigue and dynamic analysis of automobile torque arm using FEM

In this work, material replacement, including design optimization, is proposed to develop a lightweight automobile torque arm. Typically, torque arms have made of AISI grade 1040 carbon steel. In this current work, we have to consider AZ91D-T6-Magnesium alloy as an alternative material for the torque arm because this material exhibits very low density, high specific strength, and good fatigue life among the alloy group of material. The fatigue life and the dynamic behavior are the most significant parameters in optimizing the torque arm. In this paper, by a numerical method (FEM), the fatigue life in the three-point method and Dynamic behavior of torque arm has been investigated for both the materials. The results revealed that the fatigue life of Mg alloy showed better than that of steel at all three points and also observed that Mg alloy exhibits very good acceleration and very low stress compared to steel during dynamic analysis. Hence the performance of optimum design torque arm with AZ91D-T6- Mg alloy can be used to reduce the weight and improve the performance.