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Steering knuckle is one of the critical components for a four wheel vehicle which links suspension, steering system, wheel hub and brake to the chassis. While undergoing varying loads subjected to different conditions, it doesn’t affect vehicle steering performance and other desired vehicle characteristics. The static strength test for steering knuckle is necessary to validate the component according to the application. Here, the steering arm static analysis of steering knuckle was done by using finite element analysis (FEA software) and experimental testing by using hydraulic actuators and fixtures. The result from the virtual Analysis and Experimental analysis has been compared and validated for the SG Iron Steering knuckle.

Steering knuckle is a prominent component of an automobile steering system. It is subjected cyclic loads from the suspension system during its service life. The Spheroid Graphite (SG) iron is the most commonly used material for manufacturing the steering knuckle. Fatigue behaviour is therefore a key consideration in its design and performance evaluation. Geometric modelling and stress analysis of such steering knuckle using finite element analysis software is carried out. Then the fatigue life of steering knuckle made from SG iron has been evaluated under the different load conditions and the results have been compared.

The research article address, the mechanical properties such as fatigue, impact strength and tribological properties of Austempered ductile iron (ADI) has been investigated. The samples of ADI iron were austenitized at 927°C for 2 hrs and later it was under austempering process for 2 hrs at a temperature range of 240°C to 400°C. Experiments under axial loading has been carried out on three different compositions (without Ni(X), 0.22 wt % Ni (X 1 ), 0.34 wt. % Ni (X 2 ). Fabricated test bars were converted in to as per ASTM standard samples for different tests. In order to study the influence of chunky nickel morphology studies on fatigue life and impact strength were carried out on a second set of specimens without any microstructural defect. Metallurgical analyses were performed on all the samples of heat treated samples (AF -Ausferrite, MB -Mixed bainite, M -Martensite, RA -Retained Austenite and N-Nodule) were found and compared. It was found that a mean content of 22% of chunky nickel in the microstructure (with respect to total Ni content) influence considerably the fatigue and impact strength properties of the cast iron. Moreover tribological properties of the specimens were also studied under dry sliding conditions at various sliding speed and load. The wear resistance and coefficient of friction were found to increase with increase in load and sliding speed.

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