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Studying the formation and distribution of residual stress fields will improve the wheel safety operational criteria among other gains. Many engineering specifications, manufacturing procedures, inspection and quality control have begun to require that the residual stress of a particular component to be evaluated. It is known that these residual stress fields could be added to the effects of a system load (tare weight plus occupation of vehicle, traction, braking and torque combined). The mathematical tools for modeling and simulations using finite elements had evolved following the increasing computing power and hardware cost reduction. On the other hand, the experimental testing, offers specific physical component behavior and with the use of statistical tools, it is possible to predict the real behavior of the component when in operation. The experiments undertaken used the X-ray diffraction technique and the drilling method with rosette type strain gages.

The current study shows interesting results obtained by a new virtual approaching for evaluating the final stresses presented in automotive components during its application in vehicle which suggests product engineers a new tool for measuring the residual stresses in casting. As part of this proposal, an automotive as-cast aluminum wheel belong to current production was evaluated in accordance with data acquired in its manufacturing process. At that step, it was taking into account the real information of casting process parameters and the metallurgic results obtained in laboratorial tests such as, metallographic, chemical and mechanical tests. FEA (Finite Element Analysis) on simulation of wheel loading stress was made regarding those preliminary data obtained in CRSFEA simulation (cast residual stress finite element analysis) as entered parameters.