Steering wheel testing

DYNA-MESS offers machines to perform fatigue tests on steering wheels. In most cases the steering wheel is fixed by the central hub and the load is applied on the outside rim.

Fatigue test

For fatigue tests, the load can be applied in the following directions on the steering wheel:

• axial
• tangential

The oscillating frequency is between 1 to 10 Hz and the force is generally lower than 1 kN. The steering wheel can be analyzed for any visible damages, cracks or permanent deformations.

For that kind of tests, DYNA-MESS uses its TP 1 LCF servo-pneumatic actuator.

Permanent deformation

The evaluation of the deformation of the steering wheel under load is possible by measuring the variation of the position of one point before and after the load application.

DYNA-MESS use servo-pneumatic actuators to perform those tests. The testing software provided with the machine offers the possibility to change the position where the load is applied without unclamping the steering wheel. This means that it is possible to:

• Measure the load and deformation in more than one place without dismounting the part
• Perform automated tests to determine the deformation of the steering wheel as a function of the load.

Multiaxial loading

Complex loads can be applied with the test rigs equipped with multiple test cylinders. A standard multiaxial test rig consist of a torsion actuator and multiple linear actuators. With that, it is possible to combine bending and torsion stress on the same test rig.

DYNA-MESS testing software ensures an exact compliance to the set values and a perfect phasing of all the individual actuators.

Torsion tests

In addition to the experiment that use linear actuators, torsion tests can be performed with special torsion drives.
In that case, the steering wheel is fixed by the outside rim and a torsion load is applied to the central hub.
Just as the fatigue test, the following parameters can be evaluated: cracks, visible damages and permanent deformation.

Depending on the test to be performed, DYNA-MESS torsion test machines are equipped with servo-pneumatic or servo-hydraulic actuators.