Reliability Estimation of Towed Grader Attachment Using Finite Element Analysis and Point Estimation

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of the reliability of front blade, rear blade and frame of the towed grader as well as experimental validation of the results obtained from the finite element analysis. The analyzed prototype was designed for maintenance and repair of forest roads and equipped with two types of blades for cleaning and levelling the ground surface. Lifetimes of towed grader attachments can be estimated with high accuracy using threeparameter Weibull distribution. The values of the location parameter γ were determined by using the maximum values of the correlation coefficient, while the method of maximum likelihood was used for the point estimation of the parameters. Because higher values of the shape parameter had been obtained, the point estimation and estimation with confidence intervals of components lifetimes were performed. The analysis of the results indicates that the used assumptions may not fully take the complex stresses encountered in use into account.