Failure Analysis and Performance Improvement of a Lower Wishbone using FEA - Design and Hand Calculations

The wishbone is a hinged suspension link between the chassis and the suspension hub that carries the wheel. The general purpose of suspension system is to reduce vertical and longitudinal wheel load variations like that bumps and vibrations of the vehicle body and to keep the wheels of a vehicle from the uncontrollably swerving when the road conditions are not smooth. During the working condition, the maximum load is transferred from upper wishbone arm to the lower arm which creates the possibility of failure of arm. Similarly, impact loading produces the bending which is not desirable. Hence, it is essential to focus on the stress and strain analysis study of lower wishbone arm to improve and modify the existing design. In order to study the existing arm the structural three-dimensional solid modeling of lower arm was developed using the Solid works computer-aided drawing software and hand calculations were performed.