Determination of reliability of motor vehicle steering system tie-rod joint

Abstract

Procedures for planning of truncated tests for reliability assessment and processing of test results are presented in the paper, using the case of the tie-rod joint belonging to the steering system of light commercial vehicle. In order to select and quantify the optimum plan for testing the observed object, it is necessary to know in detail the structure, the way of operation, the causes of potential failure modes and mechanisms of their generation. Statistical data set related to the operation time until failure on tie-rod joint occurrence is gained by conducting tests in exploitation conditions. Test results processing is done using computer and corresponding software. Selection of optimum theoretical model of random variable distribution is conducted with taking into account all relevant identifiers.