Week 8 - Universal Joint

Analysis of a double universal joint in Ansys Workbench.

Objective:

To perform transient structural analysis on a double universal joint  with a spring using three different materials:

Case1 : Structural Steel

Case2 : Stainless Steel

Case3 : Titanium Alloy 

on the joint with the springs alone.

Aim is to solve for Equivalent stress and total deformation.

Material:

Case1;

Case2;

case3;

Mesh:

no of nodes: 12571

no of elements: 6093

Connection Details:

a fixed support is provided  on the end of the spring.

a body to ground  revolute contact is provided for face A & B with z axis as  axis of rotation

a body to body revolute contact is assigned for mating rotating contact of universal joint.

Analysis Settings :

 

the simulation is carried out in  5 steps with time step of 0.1 sec and  auto time stepping off , large deflection on and weak springs as program controlled.

Boundary Conditions:

A joint rotation of 150 degree is provided to the face of universal joint as  displayed above with an increment of 30 degree.

Results:

Case1: Structural Steel

Equivalent stress:

Total Deformation:

Case2: Stainless Steel

 Equivalent stress:

Total Deformation:

Case3: Titanium Alloy

 Equivalent stress:

Total Deformation:

CONCLUSION:

Tabular representation for comparison;

Analysis	Case1: Structural Steel	Case2: Stainless Steel	Case3: Titanium Alloy
Max Equivalent Stress	1.1237e5 MPa	1.1238e5 MPa	1.1285e5
Max Total Deformation.	38.637 mm	38.637 mm	38.637 mm

From the above table, we can see that the maximum stress induced on the double universal joint and just the joint is in a material made up of structural steel. The total deformation and equivalent stress almost remains to be same. 

But if a material is to be chosen from the materials present above, Titanium alloy is the best beacuse least amount of stresses are induced on the double universal joint and also on just the joint itself.