Representation of bolted joints in a structure using finite element modelling and model updating

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 7141-7151 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Omar ◽  
M. N. Abdul Rani ◽  
M. A. Yunus

Efficient and accurate finite element (FE) modelling of bolted joints is essential for increasing confidence in the investigation of structural vibrations. However, modelling of bolted joints for the investigation is often found to be very challenging. This paper proposes an appropriate FE representation of bolted joints for the prediction of the dynamic behaviour of a bolted joint structure. Two different FE models of the bolted joint structure with two different FE element connectors, which are CBEAM and CBUSH, representing the bolted joints are developed. Modal updating is used to correlate the two FE models with the experimental model. The dynamic behaviour of the two FE models is compared with experimental modal analysis to evaluate and determine the most appropriate FE model of the bolted joint structure. The comparison reveals that the CBUSH element connectors based FE model has a greater capability in representing the bolted joints with 86 percent accuracy and greater efficiency in updating the model parameters. The proposed modelling technique will be useful in the modelling of a complex structure with a large number of bolted joints.

Author(s):  
M. S. M. Fouzi ◽  
K. M. Jelani ◽  
N. A. Nazri ◽  
Mohd Shahrir Mohd Sani

This article concentrates on the finite element (FE) modelling approach to model welded thin-walled beam and the adoption of model updating technique to enhance the dynamic characteristic of the FE model. Four different types of element connectors which are RBE2, CBAR, CBEAM and CELAS format are used to construct the FE model of welded structure. Normal mode analysis is performed using finite element analysis (FEA) software, MSC Patran/Nastran to extract the modal parameters (natural frequency and mode shape) of the FE model. The precision of predicted modal parameters obtained from the four models of welded structure are compared with the measured counterparts. The dynamic characteristics of a measured counterpart is obtained through experimental modal analysis (EMA) using impact hammer method with roving accelerometer under free-free boundary conditions. In correlation process, the CBAR model has been selected for updating purposes due to its accuracy in prediction with measured counterparts and contains updating parameters compared to the others. Ahead of the updating process, sensitivity analysis is made to select the most sensitive parameter for updating purpose. Optimization algorithm in MSC Nastran is used in FE model updating process. As a result, the discrepancy between EMA and FEA is managed to be reduced. It shows the percentage of error for updated CBAR model shrinks from 7.85 % to 2.07 % when compared with measured counterpart. Hence, it is found that using FE model updating process provides an efficient and systemic way to perform a feasible FE model in replicating the real structure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 8635-8643
Author(s):  
M. A. Yunus ◽  
M.N. Abdul Rani ◽  
M.A.S. Aziz Shah ◽  
M.S.M. Sani ◽  
Z. Yahya

Efficient schemes to represent mathematical model of thin-sheet metal structures jointed by bolted joints for accurately predict the structure dynamic behaviour has been a significant unresolved issue in structural dynamics community. The biggest challenge is to efficiently incorporate the joints local deformation effects on the developed mathematical model via finite element (FE) method. Generally, the joints local deformation typically exerts on the joints mating area. To solve this issue, this paper proposes efficient schemes to represent mathematical model of thin-sheet metal structures jointed by bolted joints with application to accurately calculate the structure dynamic behaviour using FE model updating method. The initial FE model of the assembled structure was developed by employed Fastener Connector (CFAST) in MSC NASTRAN software to represent the bolted joints while, the inclusion of the local deformation effects at the bolted joints mating area was represented by contact elements. Then, the responses obtained from the FE model was evaluated by weight up with experimental data. FE model updating (FEMU) method then was utilised for minimising prediction discrepancies originated from the initial FE model based on the experimental data. The proposed scheme shows the accuracy of the initial prediction was improved from 25.03 % to 14.65 %  while the accuracy of the predicted mode shapes via modal assurance criterion (MAC) analysis were above 0.8. Therefore, the findings offer useful schemes for improving the quality of predicted dynamic behaviour, particularly in the thin-sheet metal jointed structure and the developed model can be used with confident for any subsequence dynamic analyses.


Author(s):  
Xue Zhai ◽  
Cheng-Wei Fei ◽  
Jian-Jun Wang ◽  
Xing-Yu Yao

To establish accurate finite element (FE) model of bolted joint structures of aeroengine stator system (casings), this work implements the parametric FE modeling and updating of bolted joints of aeroengine stator system with multi-characteristic responses (multi-object). Firstly, the parametric FE modeling approach of bolted joint structure was developed based on the thin layer element method. And then the FE model updating thought of aeroengine stator system was developed based on the probabilistic analysis method. Finally, the parametric modeling and updating of the bolted joints of aeroengine stator system with multi-characteristic responses was completed by the optimization iteration calculation of objective function based on the proposed methods and the static stiffness testing data. Through the parametric modeling of bolted joint structures based on the thin layer method, the complexity of FE model of aeroengine casings with many bolted joint structures is reduced. As shown in the FE model updating of casings with multi-characteristic responses analysis, the static stiffness from the updated model are very close to the test data, in which the maximum relative error decreases to 3.9% from 30.52% and the others are less than 3%, so that the design precision of aeroengine stator system with the many and wide variety of bolted joints gets a great improvement. Moreover, the proposed methods of parametric modeling and model updating for multi-characteristic responses are validated to be effective in the simulation and equivalent of the mechanical characteristics of bolted joints in complex systems like aeroengine stator system.


2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 1480-1494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaoye Qin ◽  
Delin Cui ◽  
Shaoze Yan ◽  
Fulei Chu

Due to frictional slippage between the joint components, clamp band joints may generate nonlinear stiffness and friction damping, which will affect the dynamics of the joint structures. Accurate modeling of the frictional behavior in clamp band joints is crucial for reliable estimation of the joint structure dynamics. While the finite element (FE) method is a powerful tool to analyze structures assembled with joints, it is computationally expensive and inefficient to perform transient analyses with three-dimensional (3D) FE models involving contact nonlinearity. In this paper, a two-dimensional (2D) FE model of much more efficiency is applied to investigate the dynamics of a clamp band jointed structure subjected to longitudinal base excitations. Prior to dynamic analyses, the sources of the model inaccuracy are determined, upon which a two-step model updating technique is proposed to improve the accuracy of the 2D model in accordance with the quasi-static test data. Then, based on the updated 2D model, the nonlinear influence of the clamp band joint on the dynamic response of the joint structure is investigated. Sine-sweep tests are carried out to validate the updated 2D FE model. The FE modeling and updating techniques proposed here can be applied to other types of structures of cyclic symmetry to develop accurate model with high computational efficiency.


Author(s):  
R. Omar ◽  
M.N Abdul Rani ◽  
M. A. Yunus ◽  
A. A. Mat Isa ◽  
W. I. I. Wan Iskandar Mirza ◽  
...  

The predicted results of the finite element (FE) model of an assembled structure with different types of joints are highly dependent on the mesh size of the FE model. The complexity of the FE model has forced engineers to seek the most efficient techniques for the selection of the appropriate mesh size specifically in obtaining accurate predicted results in normal modes analysis. This paper concerns the investigation into the effects of the mesh sizes and selection technique of the appropriate mesh size in the FE modelling and analysis of the assembled structure with bolted joints. The investigation was carried out by predicting the modal parameters of the FE models with the predefined range of mesh sizes. The predicted results of the FE models were compared with the measured counterparts obtained from the experimental modal analysis (EMA). The total error obtained from the comparison between FE and EMA was recorded. Evaluations were made by comparing the number of nodes and elements of the FE models, percentage of total error, computer processing unit (CPU) elapsed time and memory usage. The outcomes of the evaluations showed that there are significant effects of the mesh sizes on the accuracy, computing time and memory usage of the FE modal analysis of the assembled structure with bolted joints. This work also demonstrated an efficient technique for the selection of the appropriate mesh size in achieving a reliable, efficient and economic FE modelling and analysis of the assembled structure with bolted joints.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Ghafouri-Azar ◽  
Rosha Banan ◽  
Miodrag (Mike) Stojakovic

In order to understand the behavior of bolted joints and select a right size, type and gasket load combination, a detailed analysis tool is very helpful. However, the modeling and analysis of a bolted joint connection is a complicated, complex process; particularly if multiple parts are considered in the Finite Element (FE) modeling. Analysis results are often sensitive to bolt pre-torque, gasket type, gasket thickness and other challenges of Finite Element (FE) modeling. In addition, often credible and reliable gasket deflection-load data are not readily available. The bolted joint under study was a double-gasket joint with inner gasket leakoff. The joint has leaked on several occasions, sometimes after several years of service due to warmup/cooldown cycling and sometimes immediately after installation and pressurization. A 3-D FE model was developed for assembly of tubesheet, bolt, two inner and outer gaskets, and vessel cover. Different cases were studied by changing gasket load-deflections for different gasket materials, gasket thicknesses and bolt loads. The outcome of the analyses was used to predict the behavior of bolted joints and understand the root cause of leakage. The results provided guidance for choosing the right combination of bolt pre-torque and gasket type.


Author(s):  
N A Husain ◽  
H H Khodaparast ◽  
A Snaylam ◽  
S James ◽  
G Dearden ◽  
...  

Spot welds made by resistance spot welding are used extensively in automotive engineering. However, owing to increasing demands in the use of advanced and lightweight materials, laser welding has become a popular alternative for producing spot welds. Because of the complexity and uncertainties of laser welds and thus formed structures, the finite-element (FE) modelling of the welds for dynamic analysis is a research issue. This article first outlines some of the existing modelling works of spot welds. Then, a hat-plate structure used for this study is described and its FE representations are explained. The welds are modelled using CWELD elements in MSC/NASTRAN and their feasibility for representing laser spot welds is investigated. Numerical results for the initial FE model differ considerably from that of their experimental counterparts; hence, a model updating procedure is carried out to minimize the discrepancy between the two sets of results. In this work, the updating is posed as an optimization problem and is performed using the structural optimization capability (SOL 200) in MSC/NASTRAN. Two stages of updating are conducted, that is (a) updating FE models of individual components and (b) updating an FE model of the welded structure. Crucial steps in updating are explained. It is found that by selecting the right updating parameters, the CWELD element can be used to represent laser spot welds with good accuracy.


Author(s):  
Ming Zhang ◽  
Yanyao Jiang ◽  
Chu-Hwa Lee

A three-dimensional finite element (FE) model with the consideration of the helix angle of the threads was developed to simulate the second stage self-loosening of a bolted joint. The second stage self-loosening refers to the graduate reduction in clamping force due to the back-off of the nut. The simulations were conducted for two plates jointed by a bolt and a nut and the joint was subjected to transverse or shear loading. An M12×1.75 bolt was used. The application of the preload was simulated by using an orthogonal temperature expansion method. FE simulations were conducted for several loading conditions with different preloads and relative displacements between the two clamped plates. It was found that due to the application of the cyclic transverse load, micro-slip occurred between the contacting surfaces of the engaged threads of the bolt and the nut. In addition, a cyclic bending moment was introduced on the bolted joint. The cyclic bending moment resulted in an oscillation of the contact pressure on the contacting surfaces of the engaged threads. The micro-slip between the engaged threads and the variation of the contact pressure were identified to be the major mechanisms responsible for the self-loosening of a bolted joint. Simplified finite element models were developed that confirmed the mechanisms discovered. The major self-loosening behavior of a bolted joint can be properly reproduced with the FE model developed. The results obtained agree quantitatively with the experimental observations.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashique Iftekhar Rousseau ◽  
Abdel-Hakim Bouzid ◽  
Zijian Zhao

Abstract The axial stiffnesses of the bolt and clamped members of bolted joints are of great importance when considering their integrity and capacity to withstand external loads and resist relaxation due to creep. There are many techniques to calculate the stiffnesses of the joint elements using finite element (FE) modeling, but most of them are based on the displacement of nodes that are selected arbitrarily; therefore, leading to inaccurate values of joint stiffness. This work suggests a new method to estimate the stiffnesses of the bolt and clamped members using FE analysis and compares the results with the FE methods developed earlier and also with the existing analytical models. A new methodology including an axisymmetric finite element model of the bolted joint is proposed in which the bolts of different sizes ranging from M6 to M36 are considered for the analysis to generalize the proposed approach. The equivalent bolt length that includes the contribution of the thickness of the bolt head and the bolt nominal diameter to the bolt stiffness is carefully investigated. An equivalent bolt length that accounts for the flexibility of the bolt head is proposed in the calculation of the bolt stiffness and a new technique to accurately determine the stiffness of clamped members are detailed.


1990 ◽  
Vol 112 (3) ◽  
pp. 442-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. R. Grosse ◽  
L. D. Mitchell

A critical assessment of the current design theory for bolted joints which is based on a linear, one-dimensional stiffness analysis is presented. A detailed nonlinear finite element analysis of a bolted joint conforming to ANSI standards was performed. The finite element results revealed that the joint stiffness is highly dependent on the magnitude of the applied load. The joint stiffness changes continuously from extremely high for small applied loads to the bolt stiffness during large applied loads, contrary to the constant joint stiffness of the linear theory. The linear theory is shown to be inadequate in characterizing the joint stiffness. The significance of the results in terms of the failure of bolted joints is discussed. A number of sensitivity studies were carried out to assess the effect of various parameters on the axial joint stiffness. The results revealed that bending and rotation of the joint members, interfacial friction, and the bolt/nut threading significantly influence the axial stiffness characteristics of the bolted joint. The two-dimensional, axisymmetric finite element model includes bilinear gap elements to model the interfaces. Special orthotropic elements were used to model the bolt/nut thread interaction. A free-body-diagram approach was taken by applying loads to the outer diameter of the joint model which correspond to internal, uniformly distributed line-shear and line-moment loads in the joint. A number of convergence studies were performed to validate the solution.


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