Vehicle components made of plastic materials are affected by mechanical loads as well as by thermal loads as a consequence of life mission which includes operating service in very different climate conditions. Specifically devoted to plastic components, a road simulation rig, operating in a climatic chamber, has been developed. This simulation bench is comprehensive of two main subsystem: (a) a climatic chamber of such dimension to contain a complete truck cab, including part of the frame. The chamber can operate from room temperature down to -40 deg C and up to +100 deg C. Humidity can be controlled from 0 to 95%. The chamber control can automatically operate continuous temperature as well as humidity cycle repetitions; and (b) a servo-hydraulic system consisting of four actuators fixed outside of the chamber roof to an external double frame based on concrete foundations, which acts as a seismic mass. Endurance tests are performed according to a road simulation program with superimposed temperature cycling during the complete endurance test time. Experimental results obtained from light truck cab endurance test are presented.
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