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In order to optimize the development of bolted joints used to components attachments in the Sidemember of commercial vehicles, the joints development has become relevant to better definition of the fasteners size, eliminating overweight and avoiding under or super-sized. This paper presents a development sequential approach of bolted joints applied on commercial vehicles ensuring the correct specifications usage of the fasteners and the joint to keep their clamp force. The evaluations were conducted based on theoretical and practical aspects applied on products and in the definition of all elements contained in a joint. The calculation methodology was developed based on standardized bolts and forces generated through the reactions of the components required for each vehicle family.

During the field tests of a prototype of a cabin suspension assembly applied in a commercial vehicle it has been evidenced the premature failure in the torsion bar. Due to this failure, which happened with 20% of approval total test, one verified that the adding of a lateral displacement control bar (Panhard), attached to the torsion bar, promoted a significant additional force to it, which was not predicted in the initial dimensioning. Due to that, it was executed a re-design of the assembly, paying a special attention to the torsion bar, considering the influence of Panhard bar. To do that, several numerical simulations were carried out, using the finite element software Abaqus, whose boundary conditions were determined based on data collected in the field tests. Lately, the new concepts developed were submitted to bench tests, applying hydraulic actuators to apply the loads, in which one executed an experimental verification of stresses to calibrate the numerical models.