Evaluation of multiaxial fatigue lives of two different connecting rods using the finite element method

The objective in this paper is to predict the fatigue crack initiation of two automotive connecting rods. Strain energy density criterion to predict fatigue crack initiation in high-cycle fatigue regions is employed to estimate the fatigue crack initiation of the two connecting rods. Three-dimensional finite element analyses are performed on the two different connecting rods to calculation of local stresses and strains. The calculated stress-strain response parameters are, then, used to predict the fatigue crack initiation based on energy density is that the fatigue crack starts to initiate at the critical location where maximum energy density is observed. The obtained results showed that the II-Rod fatigue life is about six times greater than the I-Rod life.