scholarly journals Preliminary Finite Element Analysis of Locomotive Crashworthy Components

Author(s):  
Patricia Llana ◽  
Richard Stringfellow

The Office of Research and Development of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Volpe Center are continuing to evaluate new technologies for increasing the safety of passengers and operators in rail equipment. In recognition of the importance of override prevention in train-to-train collisions in which one of the vehicles is a locomotive, and in light of the success of crash energy management technologies in cab car-led passenger trains, the Volpe Center seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of components that could be integrated into the end structure of a locomotive that are specifically designed to mitigate the effects of a collision and, in particular, to prevent override of one of the lead vehicles onto the other. A research program is being conducted that aims to develop, fabricate and test two crashworthy components for the forward end of a locomotive: (1) a deformable anti-climber, and (2) a push-back coupler. Preliminary designs for these components have been developed. This paper provides details on the finite element models of the crashworthy components and how the component designs behave in the finite element analyses. The component designs will be evaluated to determine if the requirements have been met, such as the energy absorption capability, deformation modes, and force/crush characteristics.

Author(s):  
Michael W. Guillot ◽  
Jack E. Helms

The ability to analyze the behavior of pressure vessels with structural defects has been greatly improved by the general availability of PC based finite element analysis programs. In this study a hemispherical head with a nozzle and a local thin area is analyzed using finite element models. The requirement to apply a 15 % stress adjustment is also examined in light of the results of the finite element analyses.


2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 336-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas D. Brown

Numerical approximation of the solutions to continuum mechanics boundary value problems, by means of finite element analysis, has proven to be of incalculable benefit to the field of musculoskeletal biomechanics. This article briefly outlines the conceptual basis of finite element analysis and discusses a number of the key technical considerations involved, specifically from the standpoint of effective modeling of musculoskeletal structures. The process of conceiving, developing, validating, parametrically exercising, and interpreting the results of musculoskeletal finite element models is described. Pertinent case study examples are presented from two series of finite element models, one involving total hip implant dislocation and the other involving femoral head osteonecrosis.


2011 ◽  
Vol 418-420 ◽  
pp. 1744-1747
Author(s):  
Yun Wang ◽  
Jiang Feng Xu ◽  
Wei Cong ◽  
Jin Chuan Zhang

The finite element models of extruded sealing ring which had the same installation specifications but different structure sizes of sections were established, and the results from finite element analyses of the axial stiffness of these models were compared, then, an excellent characteristic of the shape of sealing ring on axial stiffness was found.


Author(s):  
Naveen Viswanatha ◽  
Mark Avis ◽  
Moji Moatamedi

The surround and the spider of the loudspeaker suspension are modelled in ANSYS to carry out finite element analysis. The displacement dependent nonlinearities arising from the suspension are studied and the material and geometric effects leading to the nonlinearities are parameterised. The ANSYS models are simulated to be excited by a sinusoidal load and the results are evaluated by comparison with the results obtained by a physical model. The paper illustrates how practical models can be analysed using cost effective finite element models and also the extension of the models to experiment on various parameters, like changing the geometry for optimisation, by computer simulation.


2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 142-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. L. Falkingham ◽  
K. T. Bates ◽  
L. Margetts ◽  
P. L. Manning

The occurrence of sauropod manus-only trackways in the fossil record is poorly understood, limiting their potential for understanding locomotor mechanics and behaviour. To elucidate possible causative mechanisms for these traces, finite-element analyses were conducted to model the indentation of substrate by the feet of Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus . Loading was accomplished by applying mass, centre of mass and foot surface area predictions to a range of substrates to model track formation. Experimental results show that when pressure differs between manus and pes, as determined by the distribution of weight and size of respective autopodia, there is a range of substrate shear strengths for which only the manus (or pes) produce enough pressure to deform the substrate, generating a track. If existing reconstructions of sauropod feet and mass distributions are correct, then different taxa will produce either manus- or pes-only trackways in specific substrates. As a result of this work, it is predicted that the occurrence of manus- or pes-only trackways may show geo-temporal correlation with the occurrence of body fossils of specific taxa.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1120-1121 ◽  
pp. 1089-1092
Author(s):  
Qing Dong Qin

The electricity consuming of aluminium electrolysis cell is affected by the voltage drop of anode steel claws during the aluminium electrolysis course. The resistivity of anode steel claws is affected by the temperature. In the present study, the thermal field distribution of anode steel claws was studied by finite element analysis. The results show that the thermal energy of anode steel claws come from anode carbon blocks and environment. The temperature of steel claws less than 1/3 height is affected by anode carbon blocks, and the other part is affected by surrounding temperature. According the results, the principle of the new anode steel claw design is proposed.


Author(s):  
Charles Fourcade ◽  
Minji Fong ◽  
James Axline ◽  
Do Jun Shim ◽  
Chris Lohse ◽  
...  

Abstract As part of a fatigue management program for subsequent license renewal, a flaw tolerance evaluation based on ASME Code, Section XI, Appendix L may be performed. The current ASME Code, Section XI, Appendix L flaw tolerance methodology requires determination of the flaw aspect ratio for initial flaw size calculation. The flaw aspect ratios listed in ASME Section XI, Appendix L, Table L-3210-2, for austenitic piping for example, are listed as a function of the membrane-to-gradient cyclic stress ratio. The Code does not explicitly describe how to determine the ratio, especially when utilizing complex finite element analyses (FEA), involving different loading conditions (i.e. thermal transients, piping loads, pressure, etc.). The intent of the paper is to describe the methods being employed to determine the membrane-to-gradient cyclic stress ratios, and the corresponding flaw aspect ratios (a/l) listed in Table L-3210-2, when using finite element analysis methodology. Included will be a sample Appendix L evaluation, using finite element analysis of a pressurized water reactor (PWR) pressurizer surge line, including crack growth calculations for circumferential flaws in stainless steel piping. Based on this example, it has been demonstrated that, unless correctly separated, the membrane-to-gradient cyclic stress ratios can result in extremely long initial flaw lengths, and correspondingly short crack growth durations.


2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 096369351302200
Author(s):  
S.K. Jalan ◽  
B. Nageswara Rao ◽  
S. Gopalakrishnan

Finite element analysis has been performed to study vibrational characteristics of cantilever single walled carbon nanotubes. Finite element models are generated by specifying the C-C bond rigidities, which are estimated by equating energies from molecular mechanics and continuum mechanics. Bending, torsion, and axial modes are identified based on effective mass for armchair, zigzag and chiral cantilever single walled carbon nanotubes, whose Young's modulus is evaluated from the bending frequency. Empirical relations are provided for frequencies of bending, torsion, and axial modes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 392-394 ◽  
pp. 879-883
Author(s):  
Hui Xia Liu ◽  
H. Yan ◽  
Xiao Wang ◽  
Shu Bin Lu ◽  
K. Yang ◽  
...  

Two 3-D finite element models of coated tool and uncoated tool were established using the finite element code DEFORM-2D based on the updated Lagrangian formula. And their machinability on high speed orthogonal machining was simulated and compared. The investigation results indicate that the coated tool has higher surface temperature and lower inside temperature compared with the uncoated tool. Moreover, the cutting forces of the model using coated tool are lower than that using uncoated tool.


2014 ◽  
Vol 651-653 ◽  
pp. 1197-1200
Author(s):  
Kai Wen Li ◽  
Zhi Yang Li ◽  
Yun Zou

Finite element analysis could be used as a supplementary means to investigate mechanical behavior. ABAQUS software is conducted to analyze steel reinforced concrete (SRC) columns. Firstly, in order to validate the rationality of the analytical model, finite element models of test specimens are established to simulate the test process. By comparing the analytical results with experimental ones, it is found that the results from finite element analysis coincide well with that from test. So ABAQUS software could be used as a supplementary means to simulate SRC column mechanical behavior . Further the ductility and ultimate capacity of SRC columns are studied with the changes of steel bone ratio and the axial compressive ratio.


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