Study of a Steering Knuckle Component for an Off- Road Vehicle

Steering Knuckle is a non-standard component linking the
suspension, steering & braking systems and the wheel hub to the
chassis of a vehicle. This study aims to redesign the steering knuckle
in order to reduce the weight while retaining a satisfactory safety
factor for better performance of the vehicle. A two-step process has
been used for the same. First step is modeling the knuckle as per the
structural considerations and design constraints set by suspension,
steering and brake assemblies & determination of loads acting on the
knuckle. The second step is stress analysis using finite element
software and design adjustments for reducing weight without
compromising on the structural strength. According to the analysis
results, material can be added to parts that are subjected to higher
stress than the safety factor permits. Material can also be removed
from low stress areas, thus, helping to reduce the component weight.