Durability evaluation of a composite bogie frame with bow-shaped side beams

In the current study, the static structural safety and durability of two composite bogie frame models were evaluated using a finite element analysis. Prior to evaluation, the in-plane and out-of-plane mechanical properties of the base material were measured. The fatigue property was also measured to evaluate the durability of two composite bogie frames. Based on material data, the static structural safety was examined using the Tsai-Wu failure criterion under ten different loading conditions. Stress combination data were used to evaluate durability of two composite bogie frames. Analysis results indicate that the maximum Tsai-Wu failure indices of the two composite bogie frames under a twisting load were 0.48 and 0.57. Based on the durability evaluation using Goodman diagrams, all combined stress data of the two models were within the endurance limit. In the bogie frames with a side beam height of 50 mm, the side beam bottom area was the most affected region. The joint center area revealed higher mean stress and stress amplitude values in the bogie frames with a side beam height of 150 mm.