Automotive wheel bearing housing

Ovim završnim radom je konstruirano uležištenje automobilskog kotača. Kako je uležištenje sastavni dio ovjesa automobila, prije svega je bilo potrebno analizirati i opisati način rada automobilskih ovjesa, sastavne dijelove ovjesa te glavne vrste izvedbi ovjesa. Nakon utvrđenih postojećih rješenja, određena je lista zahtjeva, odnosno postavljeni su režimi rada i opterećenja koje ležaj mora zadovoljiti. Obzirom na utvrđene postojeće izvedbe i dimenzije ležajeva kotača, odabrana su dva istovrsna stožasta ležaja u „O“ konfiguraciji proizvođača SKF. Odabrani ležaj je zatim kontroliran na postavljenu listu zahtjeva putem kalkulatora proizvođača. Ležaj je zadovoljio postavljene zahtjeve; na trajnost ležaja pri prosječnoj vožnji te na trajnost i statičku nosivost pri kritičnom slučaju. Nakon utvrđenih kritičnih opterećenja i dimenzija odabranog ležaja, izvršilo se konstruiranje potpomognuto računalnim programom Autodesk Inventor. Konstruirano je kućište ležaja kotača i glavčina kotača. Nakon konstruiranja se izvršila analiza kućišta ležaja kotača i glavčine kotača metodom konačnih elemenata. Oba dijela su zadovoljila najveća statička opterećenja koja se javljaju pri ustanovljenom kritičnom slučaju. Naposljetku je 3D model kućišta ležaja kotača izrađen tehnikom 3D printanja.This undergraduate thesis follows the design process of an automotive wheel bearing assembly. Since the wheel bearing assembly is a sub-assembly of a car's suspension system, the first step was to analyse and describe the working principles of a car’s suspension system, various parts of the suspension systems, as well as the most common design solutions of automotive suspensions. After the design solutions were established, a list of requirements was produced. The operating conditions and loads which the bearing needs to withstand were determined. While considering the existing design solutions and dimensions of wheel bearings, the chosen solution for this scenario was that of a matched tapered roller bearings arranged back-to-back by the manufacturer SKF. The chosen bearing solution was calculated based on the set list of requirements by using the manufacturer’s calculation tool. The bearing configuration satisfied the set requirements; bearing life during average driving as well as bearing life and static load safety while subjected to critical loads. After determining the critical loads acting on the bearing assembly and determining the dimensions of the chosen bearing, the wheel bearing assembly consisting of a steering knuckle and a wheel hub was designed by using CAD software Autodesk Inventor. Upon designing the assembly, a finite element analysis of the whole assembly was performed. Both designed parts were found to withstand maximum static loads which appear during the critical case scenario. Lastly, the CAD model of the designed steering knuckle was 3D printed