FEA - Frequency Analysis of a rotating shaft

Analysis of a rotating shaft

Objective

To conduct a frequency analysis using FEA simulation in solidworks on a shaft with a disc mounted and to determine the corresponding resonant frequencies and the associated mode shapes with each spectrum.

Procedure

Material chosen – Alloy Steel

Material Properties:

• Elastic Modulus – 1 e+11 N/m^2
• Poisson’s Ratio - 28
• Shear Modulus – 7.9 e+10 N/m^2
• Mass Density – 770 kg/m^3
• Tensile strength – 723825600 N/m^2
• Yield Strength – 620422000 N/m^2

Dimensions

• Shaft of given dimensions are designed and extruded in solidworks.
• A new FEA study is inititated in solidworks simulation and the material is defined as alloy steel.
• Shaft with the given conditions are extruded using solidworks and the required boundary conditions are placed i.e bearing fixture on both ends of the shaft.
• Frequency study is initiated and the following post proceesing plots were obtained long with the various resonant frequencies for the given rotating shaft.

Post Processing Data

Mode 1

Mode 2

Mode 3

Mode 4

Mode 5

Conclusion

From the above frequency analysis it is understood that the shaft should not be operated in the given frequency range 0.159416Hz, 1043.6Hz, 1044Hz, 3905.1JHz and 3907.5Hz and would result in resonance phenomenon and failure of the shaft , however mode 1 resonant frequency is a bit peculiar as it is of an extremely low Hertz range.