Background
Nodular cast iron 0727, also known as ductile iron, is widely used at Scania, a leading global manufacturer of trucks, buses and engines, for load carrying components that undergo cyclic loading during operation. Predicting the fatigue life of these components is essential for ensuring their reliability and safety. Good prediction capability also enables optimization. 

Some of the components are loaded with relatively few load cycles but with high magnitude of the load, and must then be dimensioned against low cycle fatigue (LCF). There is a need to improve the understanding of the LCF-behavior for cast iron 0727, including test data and predictive methods. 

Goal
The goal of this thesis is to increase the understanding of LCF behavior of ductile iron 0727. This will be achieved by performing fatigue tests and FE-computations. The expected outcome is fatigue strength test data and a robust method for LCF-assessment that can be integrated into future truck chassis design projects at Scania.

Description 

The thesis project will be conducted at Scania R&D in Södertälje at the chassis strength analysis group ERTCC in collaboration with the material testing group EMEMN. The work will include:

1.    Literature survey
2.    Experimental testing 
A series of fatigue tests will be performed on specimens of nodular cast iron 0727 to characterize its behavior under strain-controlled cyclic loading. Material cyclic stress-strain curves and fatigue low-cycle fatigue properties will be determined and will provide a foundation for developing a predictive fatigue model.
3.    FE-computations
By use of the FE-software Abaqus, a number of models would be developed and subjected to similar loading conditions as in the physical tests. The results from the simulations will be compared with experimental data to calibrate and validate the FE- and the fatigue model, to enhance its predictive accuracy. As a last step, the model performance will be verified with FE-computations on a chassis component with results correlated to the rig test. 

This work is in line with Scania’s ongoing mission to "Drive the Shift" towards more sustainable and reliable heavy vehicle solutions and commitment to innovation and safety in the trucking industry.
 

Education:
MSc engineering program for Mechanical Engineering/Construction, Ship Technology. 
Orientation:  Lightweight structures, Strength theory and Aviation technology are meritorious.

Number of students: 1
Start:    Jan 2025.
Credits: 30hp 1 period, 20 weeks.

Contact persons and supervisors
Darja Ljubimova    Darja.Ljubimova@scania.com
Daniel Sandberg    Daniel.Sandberg@scania.com
Ewelina Lazienkiewicz    Ewelina.Lazienkiewics@scania.com

Application:
Your application must include a CV, personal letter and transcript of grades 

A background check might be conducted for this position. We are conducting interviews continuously and may close the recruitment earlier than the date specified.

Thesis worker