ABSTRACT
The force formula of the thrust rod was deduced for the suspension of mining trucks driven on a ramp. By Finite Element Analysis (FEA), we found that the insufficient stress factor was the main cause of breaking and buckling was the main cause of the bending failure. The FEA results were consistent with the actual failure modes. The main reasons for the thrust rod failures were found and the optimal designs were conducted within a defined range. After optimal FEA, the optimal results met with the requirements of the safety factor and the reliability of the thrust rod structure design.
