Application of Load Transfer Index (U*) in Structural Analysis in Comparison With Conventional Stress Analysis

Author(s):  
Khashayar Pejhan ◽  
Christine Q. Wu ◽  
Igor Telichev

The U* index has been used for load transfer analysis to show its capability in giving general awareness regarding performance of structure. Although U* index and stress values have been proven to be useful indexes as structure design criteria, a thorough comparison between conventional stress analysis and loads transfer analysis (based on U* index) is lacking. In this study, we evaluate load transfer behaviors of a parcel rack of multiple passenger vehicles under different loading conditions using the U* index. Then by demonstrating the unique capabilities of U* as an index for stiffness, it is shown that the load path concept can be combined with the stress analysis results to provide comprehensive information about the structure responses to loading. In addition to the agreement between stress analysis and the U* analysis, it is shown that U* can provide additional information about the structure response that stress analysis fails. Such information includes: interpreting high and complicated stress distributions in structure and detection of questionable stiffness in certain parts of structure. More importantly, the load path index U* can detect the area where significant changes in the structure stiffness occurs. Such information can be used as a guideline for structure design with the goal to reduce the weight while still keeping the structure integrity.

Author(s):  
Khashayar Pejhan ◽  
Qingguo Wang ◽  
Christine Q. Wu ◽  
Igor Telichev

Load transfer analysis has been proved to be an effective approach for designing light weight vehicle structures in last two decades. There are two main procedures for predicting the load path in a vehicle: The stress trajectory method and the U* index theory. The first approach has shown some shortcomings in dealing with geometrical irregularities. As a result, automotive industries have mainly applied the U* index as a design tool to study the load transfer behavior in the vehicle structure. The U* index, is an indicator for the load transfer in the structure, i.e. higher U* index value indicates more significant role in the load transfer process. So, the distribution of the U* index in the structure can be used to predict the main load path in the structure. Nevertheless, this foundation of this theory is based upon the linear elasticity equations and consequently, it has always been limited to linear elastic problems in static or quasi static conditions. Eradicating this limitation and extending the U* Index theory to nonlinear elastic problems is the main objective of this study. An extension to nonlinear criteria for U* index theory is proposed in this paper. It is shown, for the very first time, that the extended nonlinear load transfer index (U*NL) is a true measure for the load transfer in the structure in a nonlinear elastic problem.


Author(s):  
Qingguo Wang ◽  
Khashayar Pejhan ◽  
Christine Q. Wu ◽  
Igor Telichev

Load transfer analysis is a new paradigm for lightweight vehicle design. U* index has been proved to be an effective indicator for the load path. The U* theory indicates that the external loading mainly transfers through the parts with higher U* values in the structure. However, the fundamental equations of the theory are based on isotropic, homogenous, and linear elastic assumptions for the materials. Consequently, U* index is inadequate for composite materials which are increasingly used in automotive structures. In this study, a new load transfer index for composite structures, U*O, is proposed for the first time inspired by the basic U* theory. The U*O index considers the composite material as orthotropic instead of isotropic and eliminates the limitation of the basic U*. The effectiveness of the new U*O index on load path prediction is demonstrated by a case study for a general Graphite-epoxy lamina. The U*O index is capable to evaluate the accurate load path for the composite specimen. By contrast, the basic U* analysis shows the incorrect results.


Author(s):  
Khashayar Pejhan ◽  
Qingguo Wang ◽  
Igor Telichev

Load transfer analysis tracks the path, on which the imposed load is being carried through the structure. Recently, vehicle structure designers have paid growing attention to this aspect of structural analysis for designing lighter vehicle structures that can efficiently carry the imposed loads with minimum weight. There are two main procedures for load transfer analysis in automotive engineering: 1) Stress trajectory method and 2) U* index theory. The former method faces some difficulties in following load path in structures with stress concentrations made by geometrical irregularities. As a result the U* index theory has been utilized more frequently in this area. This theory has shown exceptional capacities in following load transfer in the structure and has provided innovative tools for design modification in automotive industry. Although it can be shown mathematically that U* index quantifies the internal stiffness of the structure there has not been an experimental validation for that. Moreover, the term internal stiffness itself is not an easy concept to follow and it can be easily mistaken for the structural stiffness of the structure. As a result in the current paper two experimental testing procedures are presented to distinguish the internal stiffness, that can be quantified with U* index and the structural (conventional) stiffness of the structure. Through these experiments, for the first time, physical evaluation of U* index response to loading and structural variations can be performed.


Author(s):  
Yunwen Feng ◽  
Jiale Zhang ◽  
Xiaofeng Xue ◽  
Xiaoping Zhong ◽  
Wei Xie

Aircraft lug joint is the key part of load transfer. In order to improve the safety of lug joint, on the premise of meeting the design requirements of static strength and fatigue, the composite connection lug structure design technology of different metal materials is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the damage safety design and life reliability analysis of the lug structure are studied theoretically. Secondly, based on the concept of damage safety design and the design principle of deformation coordination, the design method of composite connection lug with deformation coordination is proposed, and the thickness ratio of single ear is 0.8:1:0.8. Finally, the reliability of the composite lug is analyzed. The results show that the structural design scheme of aluminum-titanium composite ear piece can meet the requirements of static strength and damage tolerance, and compared with the conventional ear structure, the failure probability of structure mission life is greatly reduced when the weight of the composite connection lug is only increased by 4.9%. The proposed method can effectively guide the structural design of composite ear piece.


2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahide Katsuo ◽  
Toshiyuki Sawa ◽  
Masahiro Yoneno

Abstract This study deals with the stress analysis and the strength evaluation of a bonded shrink fitted joint of circular pipes subjected to an internal pressure and a tensile load. In the analysis, two pipes and the adhesive are replaced with finite hollow cylinders, and the stress distributions in the joint are analyzed by using the axisymmetric theory of elasticity. From the numerical calculations, the following results are obtained: (1) Both the compressive and shear stresses at the interface between the adherend and the adhesive increase as Young’s modulus of the adherend increases. (2) The stress becomes singular at the edges of the interfaces. (3) The joint strength can be evaluated using the compressive and shear stresses near the edge of the interface. In the experiments, bonded shrink fitted joints consisting of dissimilar circular pipes were manufactured, and rupture tests of the joints were carried out by applying an internal pressure, and a tensile load to the joints. From the results, the joint strength of the bonded shrink fitted joint was found to be greater than that of the shrink fitted joint. Furthermore, the numerical results are in fairly good agreement with the experimental ones.


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