Buckling Analysis On a Cyclone Stand with & without Stiffener Using SolidWorks

Aim

Perform a buckling analysis on a cyclonic separator stand, Create a metallic stiffener on the legs of the stand and run the analysis to find out the change in buckling factor of safety and run a design study and find the optimum position for the stiffener.

Objective

1. Observe the buckling characteristics of a cyclonic separator stand.
2. Add a stiffener to the legs of the stand and Identify the change in buckling factor of safety
3. Optimize Buckling factor of safety using Design study

Theory

Buckling is the principal mode of failure in long and slender members where the failure occurs not by direct compression, instead of by lateral deflection. The load at which this occurs is called a critical load. The ratio between Critical load and the load applied is called Buckling Factor of Safety. In this case, the Cyclone separators stand is Analysed for buckling. Cyclone separators are separation devices that use the principle of inertia to remove particulate matter from flue gases. They're are one of many air pollution control devices known as pre-cleaners since they generally remove larger pieces of particulate matter. The Cyclonic separator stand is subjected to a load.

Procedure

here we are analyzing the stand only hence the other components are suppressed, first of all, we perform a buckling study without stiffener and then with stiffener.

After the study with stiffener, we perform a design study for identifying the location of the stiffener has the max buckling factor of safety.

Material - Alloy Steel

Mesh Type - fine mesh

Load Applied - 150KN

Results Obtained

• Optimization Using the Design Study

Design Study 1
Scenarios/Iterations:	8
Parameter Constraint or Goal	Format	Unit	Initial Value	Optimal Value	Scenario 1	Scenario 2	Scenario 3	Scenario 4	Scenario 5	Scenario 6	Scenario 7	Scenario 8
					Calculated	Calculated	Calculated	Calculated	Calculated	Calculated	Calculated	Calculated
OFFSET_DISTANCE		mm	1000	1000	250	500	750	1000	1250	1500	1750	2000
Buckling Factor of Safety1	> 25.000000		27.41241	27.41241	12.55314	16.38297	22.23061	27.41241	20.64543	15.2813	11.77958	9.622099
Buckling Factor of Safety2	Maximize		27.41241	27.41241	12.55314	16.38297	22.23061	27.41241	20.64543	15.2813	11.77958	9.622099

The Optimised results show that at 1000mm offset distance the buckling factor of safety has max. value and satisfied our condition greater than 25

• Plot Obtained without Stiffener in the Cyclone stand

The buckling factor of safety without stiffener = 9.38

• Plots Obtained with Stiffener in the Cyclone stand

The buckling factor of safety with stiffener = 27.41

Conclusion

The buckling factor of safety without stiffener was 9.38. The presence of stiffener improves the structural integrity of the stand as it provides resistance to buckling. The buckling factor of safety wit stiffener placed at 1000mm was 27.41, As per the design study, this was also the optimal position for the stiffener and yielded the highest buckling factor of safety.