ANALYSIS OF BUCKLING PHENOMENA IN CYCLONIC SEPARATOR STAND

1.AIM :

TO PERFORM BUCKLING ANALYSIS ON A CYCLONIC SEPERATOR FOR VARIOUS OBJECTIVES USING SOLIDWORKS

2.OBJECTIVES :

Perform buckling analysis on a Cyclone separator stand

1. after applying a fixed downward load on the top surface.
2. whose legs are fixed with a metallic stiffener and find out the change in buckling factor of safety.
3. by running a design study and find the optimum position for the stiffener.

using Solidworks simulation.

3.INTRODUCTION :

Cyclone separators are separation devices (dry scrubbers) that use the principle of inertia to remove particulate matter from flue gases. Cyclone separators are one of many air pollution control devices known as precleaners since they generally remove larger pieces of particulate matter. This prevents finer filtration methods from
having to deal with large, more abrasive particles later on. In addition, several cyclone separators can operate in parallel and this system is known as a multi-cyclone.

Here buckling analysis on a cyclonic separator stand is performed using solidworks simulation. The image of model is shown below

Buckling is the sudden change in shape of a structural component under load such as the bowing of a column under compression or the wrinkling of a plate under shear. If a structure is subjected to a gradually increasing load, when the load reaches a critical level, a member may suddenly change shape and the structure and component is said to have buckled.

In this study 3 analysis are performed

• In analysis 1 the cyclonic separator stand is analyzed for buckling under a load of 100000 N without any stiffener.
• In analysis 2 the cyclonic separator stand is analyzed with a stiffener attached to the legs.
• In analysis 3 the cyclonic separator stand is analyzed with a stiffener attached to its legs. The position of the stiffener is optimized using Design Study.

For all the 3 analysis the material chosen is Alloy Steel

Model type: Linear elastic isotropic

4. ANALYSIS AND RESULTS :

All the 3 analysis details and their results are given below:

• ANALYSIS 1

The Cyclonic separator stand is analyzed for buckling under applied load without any stiffener.

Procedure:

• Suppress all the parts of cyclonic separator stand except the stand, as they are not useful in analysis.
• Using the Solidworks simulation create a new study and click on 'buckling'. This leads us to the buckling analysis.
• Assign material to the part.
• Under the 'fixture' option using 'Fixed geometry', fix the base of stand by selecting the lower faces of the legs.
• Using the 'External loads' option, select 'Force' and then select the face on which the force is to be applied. Enter the magnitude of the force as 100000 N in downward direction.

• Right-click on the 'Mesh' option and select 'Create mesh'. The mesh specifications are to be entered and then the mesh appears.

Mesh type: Solid Mesh

Element size: 36.564 mm

• Run the analysis

Result:

Max Amplitude: 0.00418mm
Buckling Factor of Safety: 14.09

Animation of deformation:

• ANALYSIS 2

The Cyclonic separator stand is analyzed with a stiffener attached to the legs.

Procedure:

• Suppress all the parts of cyclonic separator stand except the stand, as they are not useful in analysis. Now, select 'New Part' and create a stiffener and mate it to the inner surfaces of the legs of the stand at a height.
• Using the Solidworks simulation create a new study and click on 'buckling'. This leads us to the buckling analysis.
• Assign material to the part.
• Under the 'fixture' option using 'Fixed geometry', fix the base of stand by selecting the lower faces of the legs.
• Using the 'External loads' option, select 'Force' and then select the face on which the force is to be applied. Enter the magnitude of the force as 100000 N in downward direction.

• Right-click on the 'Mesh' option and select 'Create mesh'. The mesh specifications are to be entered and then the mesh appears.

Mesh type: Solid Mesh

Element size: 40.0715 mm

• Run the analysis

Result:

Max Amplitude: 0.00372mm
Buckling Factor of Safety: 43.264

The Buckling Factor of Safety has increased after adding a stiffener, as the stiffener gives the stand strength.

Animation of deformation:

• ANALYSIS 3

The Cyclonic separator stand is analyzed with a stiffener attached to the legs. The position of the stiffener is optimized by performing a Design Study.

Procedure:

• Suppress all the parts of cyclonic separator stand except the stand, as they are not useful in analysis. Now, select 'New Part' and create a stiffener and mate it to the inner surfaces of the legs of the stand and an arbitrary height using offset mate with the lower surface of the upper surface.
• Using the Solidworks simulation create a new study and click on 'buckling'. This leads us to the buckling analysis.
• Assign material to the part.
• Under the 'fixture' option using 'Fixed geometry', fix the base of stand by selecting the lower faces of the legs.
• Using the 'External loads' option, select 'Force' and then select the face on which the force is to be applied. Enter the magnitude of the force as 100000 N in downward direction.

• Right-click on the 'Mesh' option and select 'Create mesh'. The mesh specifications are to be entered and then the mesh appears.
• Create a design analysis, in 'variables', 'add parameter' appears where a dialogue box appears and the variables which are to be optimized can be added and linked. In this analysis, the variables, position of the stiffener, width of the stiffener, extrude height of the stiffener, mesh width and force have been added.

Buckling force: 100000 N - 500000 N in steps of 200000 N

The position of the stiffener: 101mm - 1501mm in steps of 100mm from the lower surface of the plate.

Height of extrusion of stiffener: 50mm - 80mm in steps of 15mm.

Stiffener thickness: 30mm - 60mm in steps of 15mm.

• Under 'constraints', the buckling factor of safety has been added and must be greater than 20.
• Under 'goals', the Buckling Factor of Safety is maximized.
• Run the analysis, this will give us the best set of values according to our constraints and goals.

Result:

Design study data can be viewed at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bfxdfKYh4xS_IswVfUzRnAudtB2M0jE3/view?usp=sharing

Optimal value dataset:

Positon of stiffener from base- 901mm

extrude height- 80mm

thickness- 60mm

mesh size- 0.018m

Force - 100000N

Optimal value plot:

Max Amplitude: 0.00438mm
Buckling Factor of Safety: 46.295

Animation of deformation:

5. CONCLUSION :

The analysis of buckling phenomena in the cyclonic seperator stand was completed succesfully using Solidowrks simulation.

Adding stiffener increases the strength and this increases the buckling factor of safety.