CASE STUDY – FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS TO LOCATE & ANALYSE FRACTURE IN A UNIVERSAL JOINT

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Case Study Highlights

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS TO LOCATE & ANALYSE FRACTURE IN A UNIVERSAL JOINT

The Client

Industry:  Agriculture Purpose Vehicle Manufacturer

Location: QLD Australia

The Objective:

Predicting fracture locations in the universal joint and modifying design accordingly using FEA.

The Solution:

A CAD model for simulation was developed and boundary conditions in the form of loads were applied to the universal joint model. The analysis revealed regions with critical stresses, predicting the possibility of fracture.

Design modification was suggested based on analysis results to overcome fracture issue, which was confirmed with subsequent structural analysis.

The Challenges:

  • Developing an accurate CAD model for a universal joint with required features to record complete physical behaviour during simulation
  • Determining and applying suitable boundary conditions to capture accurate stress-strain information
  • Suggesting design modifications based on material knowledge, physics behaviour and FEA results

One of the leading special purpose vehicle manufacturers approached ASTCAD to obtain design solution for their existing universal joint model. Due to frequent static fractures in the existing universal joint design, the manufacturer suffered from costly downtime and needed corrective measures to prevent fracture conditions.

They also needed our engineering team to work on design modification part to improve the design.

Universal Joint FEA

The Solution:

An assembly of the parts was created using Pro/E & the assembled model was imported to ANSYS for analysis.

The analysis was done by using different boundary conditions and selecting the SOLID-92 tetrahedral element. The stress, strain and deformation on the ANSYS model of the universal joint were checked for varying loading conditions.

The analysis revealed that the maximum stress was occurring at both the yokes of the universal joint at the middle span. The beginning location of crack corresponds to the point of highest stress. A modification of the design, by a slight increase in dimension, was suggested after analyzing the parameters for different boundary conditions.

Benefits FEA Services :

  • The finite element analysis revealed the exact location where the maximum stress and the maximum deformation were occurring in the part.
  • The client was able to examine the exact crack propagation by the point of highest stress.
  • The downtime and associated costs in physical tests and design modifications reduced considerably.

About Australian Design And Drafting Services

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We have extensive experience in providing concept to manufacturing and post-manufacturing solutions to clients with a team of expert design engineers, CAD professionals and simulation analysts.

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NEED TECHNICAL STAFF? CALL US 1800 287 223

Australian Design & Drafting  provides multidisciplinary Design & Drafting Professionals

Australian Design & Drafting provides Free Tender Service to all our clients which will save you time, stress and thousands of dollars

Australian Design & Drafting provides obligation Free Consultation Service for all your Drafting & Design requirements

Australian Design & Drafting  provides multidisciplinary Design & Drafting Professionals