How can a vehicle parking device composed of welded components ensure long-term load-bearing safety through structural rigidity and fatigue resistance design?
Publish Time: 2026-01-05
In the context of increasingly scarce urban space, vehicle parking devices are widely used. These devices are mostly manufactured using welded steel structures, and their safety is directly related to the life and property safety of users. To ensure the stable and reliable operation of the device under long-term repeated loads, scientific design is necessary in terms of both structural rigidity and fatigue resistance. This article will systematically explain how to ensure the long-term load-bearing safety of welded parking devices through structural rigidity and fatigue resistance design, from the aspects of material selection, structural layout, welding process, and fatigue life assessment.1. Structural Rigidity: The Foundation of Load-Bearing StabilityStructural rigidity refers to the ability of a component to resist deformation under stress. For parking devices, high rigidity means that excessive deflection or local instability will not occur during vehicle parking or movement. High-strength low-alloy steel should be prioritized in the design, as its yield strength and elastic modulus are superior to ordinary carbon steel, which helps to reduce the cross-sectional dimensions of components while maintaining overall rigidity. In addition, a reasonable cross-sectional shape and stiffening rib arrangement can effectively improve bending and torsional stiffness. In terms of overall structural layout, unfavorable structures such as excessively long cantilevered arms and weak connections should be avoided. Stress distribution should be optimized through finite element analysis to ensure that deformation is controlled within the allowable range under maximum design load.2. Fatigue Resistance Design: Key to Coping with Cyclic LoadsParking devices are subjected to frequent start-stop, lifting, and entry/exit dynamic loads during daily use, which is a typical low-cycle fatigue condition. Welded joints, due to geometric discontinuities, residual stress, and microscopic defects, are high-risk areas for fatigue crack initiation. Therefore, fatigue resistance design must be implemented throughout the entire manufacturing process. First, stress concentration should be minimized during the structural detail design stage, for example, by using large-radius transitions, avoiding sharp notches, and grinding the weld ends. Second, full penetration welds should be preferred, and automatic or semi-automatic welding processes should be used to improve weld quality consistency; post-weld heat treatment should be performed when necessary to eliminate residual welding stress. Combining the S-N curve and Miner's linear cumulative damage theory, fatigue life calculations should be performed on key nodes to ensure sufficient safety margin within the design service life.3. Comprehensive Protection Measures: Full-Cycle Management from Design to Operation and MaintenanceBesides structural and material design, long-term safety relies on comprehensive quality control and regular maintenance. During manufacturing, strict welding procedure qualification and non-destructive testing should be implemented to eliminate defects such as incomplete fusion, porosity, and cracks. After installation, static and dynamic load tests must be conducted to verify actual stiffness and load-bearing capacity. After commissioning, a regular inspection system should be established, focusing on weld areas for corrosion, cracking, or abnormal deformation, and repairing them promptly. Simultaneously, intelligent monitoring technology can be introduced to conduct real-time status assessments of critical components, enabling preventative maintenance.In summary, for vehicle parking devices composed of welded parts to achieve long-term load-bearing safety, high structural rigidity and excellent fatigue resistance must be organically combined. This relies not only on scientifically sound structural selection and detailed optimization but also on high-quality welding processes, stringent inspection standards, and full-lifecycle operation and maintenance management. Only in this way can functional efficiency be guaranteed while establishing a solid safety baseline, providing robust support for smart parking in cities.