Research and Application for Thermal Fatigue Analysis of V-Shape Specimen

A thermal fatigue (TF) test bench for V-shape specimen was established successfully. Based on different test schemes, it was observed that the fatigue life of V-shape specimen decreased with increasing cooling time. Then, the finite element analysis (FEA) model was developed, the max value of equivalent plastic strain amplitude (ΔPEEQ) is 0.17%, observed on the inner surface of V-shape area, which corresponded to the area with cracks on the real specimen. Moreover, the program was written by python to predicate the crack locations and TF life. The calculated life of critical point of V-shape specimen was 4071 cycles, corresponding to the test value of 3963 cycles. Finally, the research achievements were applied successfully in a product of catalytic converter. The minimum value of the TF life occurred at the inner edge of the intake clamshell, with a life value of 2775 cycles, meeting the reliability requirement.