axle analysis boundary conditions

[kemechial]

Hi,

I am analyzing a solid axle of a vehicle using ansys. I simply apply the weight of the vehicle over the pads on which leaf springs sit. I also apply cylindrical joints at the tips of the axle. I fix all of the tangent, radial and axial components at one side and I set axial component free at the otherside to avoid a hyperstatical structure. But I was not satisfied and tried fixing all components at both sides and eventually got a little more safer result. So, which model is more realistic, any suggestions?

 

[cbrn]

Hi,
which is more realistic? Only you can know ! ;-) Imho, none of the two. Both have simplifications, so you must decide which are the most tolerable simplifications. If you don't want any simplification, you must model the fixtures with all details, with frictional contacts between them and the bolts' preloads where needed...

Regards