FE Calculation Methodology for the Thermodynamic Fatigue Analysis of an Engine Component

Thermo mechanical fatigue problem is treated to define an analysis methodology permitting the strength evaluation by reliability viewpoint. The main difficulty is the lack of both theoretical and experimental information; consequently the problem is treated verifying continually the validity and the limits of the developing solution method. The main task of the activity described in this paper was the development of a numerical methodology, based on FE analyses, for the evaluation of the structural behavior of engine components subjected to thermo mechanical fatigue phenomena. The chosen application was the exhaust manifold of an IC engine; FE analyses were executed following the standard m…