Analysis on a plate with a hole using Solidworks FEA Simulation

Aim:

To perform static structural analysis on a plate with a hole in Solidworks.

Objective:

• To perform tensile structural analysis on a plate with one hole.
• To perform tensile structural analysis on a plate with three holes.
• To obtain the results and determine the best design.

Theory:

In many engineering applications various shapes of holes are produced into the component to satisfy the service requirements. The shape of hole may be circular, elliptical, square, triangle or any other shape. These holes increase the stress and may cause of failure of the component. Thus, for safety purpose it is necessary to understand the stress pattern around the hole under the application of various types of loading conditions. In this article it is attempted to study the stress around a hole under tension.

Stress concentration is the increase in stress along the cross-section that maybe caused by a point load or by any another discontinuity such as a hole which brings about an abrupt change in the cross-sectional area. The ratio of the maximum to the average stress is called as stress concentration factor.

Setup Explanation:

1. First, the two plates are modelled in Solidworks with the following dimensions in Solidworks. The thickness is taken as 30 mm for both plates.

2. Then, under simulation option click on new study and create a new static structural study.
3. Right click on the plate and set material as alloy steel.
4. Create a fixed support at one the side faces and apply a uniformly distributed pulling force to the other side face with a magnitude of 1000 N as shown.

5. Create a mesh with the default settings as shown and run the study.

6. Do the same thing for the other plate and save the results.

Results:

1. Plate 1: Mass = 7662 g

2. Plate 2: Mass = 7336 g

Observation:

1. The induced stress concentration in plate 1 is more than that in plate 2.
2. The displacement in plate 2 is more than that in plate 1.

Conclusion:

1. The plate with 3 holes is much safer from a strength point of view.
2. The plate with one hole is stiffer.
3. Hence, the plate with three holes is a better choice since it has a lower stress and lower mass as well. However, if stiffness is more important then plate 1 should be selected.

File Link:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pyFoIBW2nyHCMsP1131KRJLcuNsOPTbo?usp=sharing