Section Modulus calculation and optimization
Aim
To calculate section modulus of hood and optimize the design to have improved section modulus.
Section modulus:-
Section modulus is a direct measure of a strength of any cross sectional area of an object about an reference axis.
The formula of section modulus is given by,
S=I / Ymax
Where,
I = Moment of inertia (mm^4)
Y = Distance between neutral axes and outermost fiber (mm)
Steps to calculate section modulus:-
- Step 1:- Find location of centroid of given cross section.
- Step 2:- Find moment of inertia about neutral axis (INAINA)
- Step 3:- Find YmaxYmax from neutral axis.
- Step 4:- Find elastic section modulus using the formula provided above.
Moment of inertia is nothing but offering resistance against the moment, bending or twisting. So higher the moment of ineria higher will be its resistance to deform is higher.
Here the sectional modulus of hood design before optimization
Momemt of inertia is calculated by NX-CAD software


Imax – 1.56281906 x 10^7 (mm^4)
Imin – 1.399292279 x 10^5 (mm^4)
Y = Total length / 2
= 484.80/2
=242.4 mm
section modulus for max. = 1.56281906 x 10^7 / 242.4
= 6.44756 x 10^4
section modulus for min. = 1.399292279 x 10^5 / 242.4
= 5.772657 x 10^2
So for this hood design section modulus range from (6.44756 x 10^4 to 5.772657 x 10^2) mm^3
Optimized design
Inorder to increase the sectional modulus, cross sectional area has to be increased.
So here the optmized design:-


Imax – 1.5497133760 x 10^7 (mm^4)
Imin – 1.560508612 x 10^5 (mm^4)
Y = Total length / 2
=484.80/2
=242.4 mm
section modulus for max. = 1.5497133760 x 10^7 / 242.4
= 6.393206 x 10^4
section modulus for min. = 1.560508612 x 10^5 / 242.4
= 6.437741 x 10^2
So for this hood design section modulus range from (6.393206 x 10^4 to x 6.437741 x 10^2) mm^3
It is evident that if the section modulus is increased from 5.772657 x 10^2 mm^3 to 6.437741 x 10^2 mm^3 by increasing the sectional area.
Conclusion
Strength of material is directly proportional to the moment of interia, Hence on increasing the sectional area the strength of component also increases.
Thus sectional modulus for hood design is calculated and optimized design is also done to increase the section modulus of the hood.