Mechanical Testing Puts Tire Rims to the Test
When parts or products fail to perform as expected, Laboratory Testing Inc. can help identify the reason. Our lab’s engineers utilize appropriate testing methods to determine material composition, material properties and the existence of defects. Oftentimes, the research and evaluation are used as evidence in legal cases.
One such case
involved the safety and performance of tire rims. LTI’s client needed a comparison of cast after-market wheels involved in an auto accident with forged factory-standard rims for the same vehicle. The vehicle’s after-market wheels shattered upon impact with a concrete curb during the accident, so LTI tested and compared both types of rims to determine the ability of each to withstand a similar impact.
A mechanical testing drop-weight test was used to replicate the force applied to the wheels during the accident. The testing involved allowing a 1,000 lb. weight to free-fall directly onto each rim from increasing heights, which created various ft. lbs. of energy.
The cast after-market style was tested at 3,000 and 5,000 ft. lbs. of energy. The first wheel cracked at 3,000 ft. lbs. of energy and a second one shattered under 5,000 ft. lbs. The forged factory rim was tested at both 5,000 ft. lbs. and 10,000 ft. lbs. and showed no breakage.
Complete details of the mechanical testing drop-weight test method and results were provided to our customer in a Certified Test Report.
Videos taken during this Drop-weight Testing can be seen on YouTube at www.youtube.com/labtesting.