Development of a Torsion Test Bench Electric Drive Based on Arc Induction Motors

Abstract: A torsional fatigue test of a torsion bar should be carried out in accordance with the nature of the real loads by applying cyclic loads created by a special test bench based on arc induction motors. This test bench uses the principle of resonant oscillation excitation and has a torsion bar spring pretension device, a massive flywheel (rotor), and a drive to create a sign-variable torque. As a mechanism for excitation of resonant oscillations of torsion bars, two arc stators are used that cover a massive flywheel (rotor) and are equipped with three-phase windings controlled by an electronic unit with a noncontact automatic control system on the basis of a starting thyristor device. The use of the resonant principle of oscillation excitation based on arc induction motors makes it possible to significantly simplify the existing design of the test bench and increase the efficiency when testing torsion bars. The developed functional diagram of the bench electric-drive control system provides automatic maintenance of the flywheel oscillations with a given accuracy during testing. These factors significantly increase the economic effect of the implementation of the test bench. © 2022, Allerton Press, Inc.