Week 8 - Universal Joint

Objective -

To perform transient structural analysis on a double universal joint with a spring using three different materials: Structural Steel, Stainless Steel and Titanium alloy. The three materials must be used on the joint with the springs alone. Find the equivalent stress and Total deformation for all three cases and compare the results.

Solution -

We open the ansys workbench and add the three materials mentioned in the objective.

Material Properties

Stainless steel

Structural steel

Titanium alloy

Now we upload the model to the geometry and open it in space claim and see if there are any discontinuities in the model.

Update the model to the mechanical module. And opening the module.

As in order to rotate the universal joint we fix the end of the spring. It is fixed to ground.

Now we add revolute joints to all the pin joints which connect the two ends in the centre.

Also we give revolute joints to both ends of universal joints. A,B are the two ends. And rest all are tha pin joints. 

Face sizing for the spring joint is done as we are intrested in the results on the area.

Mesh for the spring joint is 3 mm element size.

Analysis setting for Step 1

Setting for step 2 to step 5

We give a rotation type joint load with a 30 degree increase in each step.

After setting up the problem we insert the required results to the solution. In this case we add equivalent stress and total deformation.

Case 1 - Structural steel

Equivalent stress

Total Deformation

Case 2- Stainless steel

Equivalent stress

Total Deformation

Case 3- Titanium alloy

Equivalent stress

Total Deformation

Comparison Table -

Parameters	Units	Case 1	Case2	Case3
Equivalent stress	Mpa	1655	1601.5	809.17
Total Deformation	MM	38.637	38.637	38.637

Conclusion-

From the table we can say that the total deformation remains constant for all the three materials.

But the stress (equivalent) for structural steel is highest of the three. there is a slight difference in the values of stress between stainless steel and structural steel.

But the titanium alloy has the least stress induced of all the three materials.

As the structural steel has the highest value of Youngs modulus of all three the stress is maximum and titanium has lowest value of youngs modulus of stress is lowest in titanium