Buckling Analysis On A Cyclone Seperator Stand

Objective:-

• To use solidworks simulation tool to observe the buckling characteristics of a cyclonic separator stand.
• To add a stiffener to the legs of the stand and determine the increase in critical buckling load.
• To use solidworks parametric design study to run parametric simulations and obtain the optimum position for the stiffener that will maximize buckling FOS.

Initial Conditions:-

The Cyclonic seperator stand is subjected to a load of 150kN in the top face and the bottom face of the legs are fixed.

Stiffener having a height of 75 mm is modelled in an arbitary and the location of the stiffener is to be found out using the buckling analysis and design optimisation study.This should result in a design that is having the maximum buckling FOS.

Case 1: Buckling analysis of cyclone separator without stiffener.

Applied Load:- 150 kN

Mesh Size:- 18 mm

Results:-

Inference:-

The factor of safety is observed to be 9.35. This means that the critical load is 9.35 times the applied load and the structure is reasonably stable under the given loading conditions.

Case 2: Buckling analysis of cyclone separator with a stiffener.

Height of the stiffener = 75 mm

Applied Load:- 150 kN

Mesh Size:- 18 mm

Results:-

Inference:-

The factor of safety is observed to be 27.56. This means that the critical load is 27.56 times the applied load and the critical load has increased about 3 times than the design without a stiffener.

Case 3: Parametric study to determine the optimum position for the stiffener.

Defined Parameters:

1. Variables

Offet Distance: The stiffener was movedd axially from 0.25m to 1.75m through an increment of 0.25m from the datum(Ground level).

2.Constraints

Buckling Factor of safety: The minimum buckling FOS criteria was set as 25.

3. Goal

Maximize the buckling factor of safety parameter.

The above inputs were given to the solver. The output of the design study is shown below.

Inference

The parametric design study gave an optimal location of the stiffener as a 1m offset from the datum,which was already the position for buckling analysis.Placing stiffener at this location will yield maximum buckling factor of safety thereby maximum critical load of buckling.

Conclusion

From the analysis conducted in three cases, the stand without the stiffener showed a buckling factor of safety of 9.35. Whereas the one with stiffener exhibited almost 3 times the FOS that is 27.56. The stiffener location was found to be optimal using a parametric design study and the design met the requirements of buckling FOS greater than or equal to 25.