Within IRDL, Enora Bellec explored loading spectra for fatigue sizing of automotive vehicles.
Enora Bellec, chercheur·e au sein de IRDL (Institut National Polytechnique de Bretagne).
Thèse soutenue en 2023 à l'école doctorale École doctorale Sciences pour l'ingénieur et le numérique.
Référencée dans le réseau ABES/STAR, cette thèse répond aux critères de rigueur de l'enseignement supérieur français.
Enora Bellec's thesis, conducted at the National Polytechnic Institute of Brittany, addresses a crucial topic for the automotive industry: fatigue sizing of suspension components. Indeed, the reliability of these components is essential to ensure the safety of vehicles throughout their lifespan. Suspension components, such as shock absorbers, springs, and control arms, are subjected to significant stresses that can vary considerably depending on driving conditions. However, the lack of common standards in this area poses a major challenge for manufacturers. They must rely on their experience, which can lead to significant variations in the quality and safety of vehicles.
This situation is particularly concerning in a context where competition among manufacturers is increasingly fierce. Consumers, for their part, demand vehicles that are not only high-performing but also safe and reliable. Accidents due to failures of suspension components can have dramatic consequences, both human and economic. Thus, it is imperative to establish clear and rigorous standards for the sizing of these components.
The research focuses on identifying and analyzing the loads experienced by suspension components, which are often complex due to their variable amplitude and multi-input nature. By using spectral methods, Bellec was able to process random loads and analyze signals measured on roads in Benin. This approach allows for more accurate results, taking into account the real conditions encountered in the field. For example, roads in Benin often present irregularities and degradations that are not accounted for in laboratory tests.
The results of this study are significant. On one hand, they highlight the need to establish common standards for the sizing of suspension components, in order to standardize practices in the automotive industry. This could also promote better cooperation among the various stakeholders in the sector, whether they are manufacturers, researchers, or regulators. On the other hand, they emphasize the importance of developing analysis methods suited to non-stationary and non-Gaussian sections, which could improve the accuracy of lifespan estimates for components.
The impact of this research is not limited to France. Indeed, the data collected in Benin offers a unique perspective on the challenges faced by vehicles under African conditions. African roads, often less well-maintained than those in developed countries, impose specific constraints on vehicles. This opens the door to significant improvements in the design and manufacturing of vehicles intended for this market. For example, manufacturers may be prompted to develop more durable materials or innovative designs that take local driving conditions into account.
It is therefore imperative that stakeholders in the automotive industry take these results into account to improve the safety and reliability of their products. The establishment of common standards and the adoption of advanced analysis methods could transform the landscape of the automotive industry in West Africa, ensuring safer and more durable vehicles. Furthermore, this could also stimulate innovation within the sector, encouraging companies to invest in research and development.
In conclusion, Enora Bellec's thesis is not limited to a simple technical analysis; it raises crucial issues for the future of the automotive industry, both in France and in West Africa. Vehicle safety, consumer satisfaction, and company competitiveness are all factors that must be considered in this dynamic. The results of this research should prompt decision-makers to act quickly and collaboratively to establish standards and practices that will ensure the safety and reliability of vehicles in the long term.
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Sources et accès
Enora Bellec. Spectres de chargement pour le dimensionnement à la fatigue d’un véhicule automobile : identification, analyse et modélisation. Matériaux et structures en mécanique [physics.class-ph]. École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées Bretagne, 2023. Français. ⟨NNT : 2023ENTA0003⟩. ⟨tel-04462756⟩