Risk assessment of hitch pins connecting tractor and trailer to enhance the safety of humans using strain life fatigue approach

The hitch pin is a critical component between tractor and trailer. The failure of hitch pins is quite frequent and a serious issue which remains unaddressed to a great extent due to limited information on this topic. This paper presents a novel insight into substandard pins manufactured in the informal sector due to non-conformance to any established standard and opens up a new area for further research on this subject. In the present context, risk factors along with reasons of cracks of in-service hitch pins were assessed to enhance the safety of humans. The pin showed signs of a crack, corrosion, scratches, and dents. Notches and scratches acted as stress raisers. Cracks can be seen initiating from the tip of notches. The pin was made of non-standard mild steel and was not heat treated. The study further demonstrates the methods to improve the fatigue life of the pin using numerical simulation. The hardness method was used to collect the cyclic fatigue properties of the commercially available mild steel for different heat-treated samples using the strain life fatigue approach. The casehardened mild steel pin of a case depth of 1.3 mm with a hardness of 30 HRC had considerably increased fatigue properties. Recommendations have been provided to protect humans from these accidents.