Easing the Strain
This article focuses on the finite element analysis (FEA) that is a key ingredient in keeping a popular theme park ride up and running. Long before the ride entered service, Universal called in GLENCO Engineering Inc., to perform finite element modeling and analysis in order to evaluate the primary structural components of the Spider-Man ride vehicle cabin. The FEA initiated to increase the stiffness of the cabin floor also identified a location where the peak strains were higher than the values determined in the hand calculations and associated strain gauge testing. The FEA of the Spider-Man cabin structure significantly improved the design of the composite floor. Strains measured at locations selected without the benefit of FEA produced a misleading assessment of the design in its first prototype. FEA, however, identified peak strains at a location and direction that were not intuitively obvious to the engineers. The results were confirmed with dynamic strain measurements—verifying not only magnitude but also directions of the principal strains. The finite element model was a valuable tool that enabled the floor design to be precisely refined in one of the iterations.