Comparison of bending in different beams using SolidWorks

AIM

To compare the performance of 3 different types of beams under a bending load.

THEORY

When a bending load is applied to a beam, it experiences a bending moment which causes change in its shape and development of internal stresses. The material is in compression on the inside of the curve and in tension at the outside of the curve. The transverse planes in the material remain parallel to the radius during bending.

Finite element analysis (FEA)

It is an application of finite element analysis (FEM) for solving structural problems. A problem is solved by subdividing a larger system into smaller and simpler parts called finite elements. This is implemented by construction of a mesh of the object, the numerical domain for the solution with finite number of points. A typical procedure followed for the same includes dividing the domain of the problem into collection of sub-domains, each represented by a set of element equations to the original problems followed by systematically recombining all sets of element equations into a global system for final calculations.

FEA helps in analyzing problems over complicated domains when the domain changes, desired precision varies over entire domain or when the solution lacks smoothness. It removes various instances of creation and testing of hard prototypes during the design process with the help of computational software.

Cantilever beam

A cantilever is a rigid structural element which extends horizontally and is supported at one end only. In this project, we have considered each beam to be a cantilever beam with uniform loading at one of the face. The material applied to each beam is alloyed steel and a load of 1500N is applied at the smaller face of each beam.

PROCEDURE

The cross section of each beam is drawn according to the given CAD drawing and extruded to a length of 400mm.

From the simulation tab in SolidWorks, a new study is selected and static study is chosen.

Material is applied to the beam. The cross-sectional face is fixed and desired load is applied to the smaller face of the beam (1500N).

Suitable mesh is created and the study is run to obtain the results. Once the results are obtained, right click on the results and compare results is selected. It displays the stress plot, strain plot and the displacement plot together for analysis as shown below.

CASE 1: Rectangular beam

CASE 2: I-beam

CASE 3: C-beam

OBSERVATION

The deflection or displacement of the beam about its original position is nearly 0 near the fixed face and it increases with increase in distance from the fixed face.

Out of the 3 beams, the rectangular beam shows least strain, stress induced and the displacement from its mean position followed by the I-beam and then the C-beam for same applied load. However, the values are comparable for the rectangular beam and the I-beam and taking weight of the beam into account, I-beam would be best suited under the given circumstances as it is much lighter due to density. The C-beam would be least preferred.

Torsion seems to be generated in the C-beam due to the applied load.

CONCLUSION

Taking all the necessary factors into account, we can say that I-beam is best suited for the given conditions followed by the rectangular beam and the C-beam is least preferred.