Performing Transient analysis on a Double Universal Joint with three different materials.
OBJECTIVE
To perform a transient structural analysis on a double universal joint with a spring using three different materials Structural Steel, Stainless Steel and Titanium alloy.
Importing the CAD model
The CAD model is imported using spaceclaim and checked for any geometry errors.
Simulation setup
Material Assignment
Case (1) - The entire model is assigned with structural steel material
Case (2) - The joint with spring is alone changed to stainless steel from structural steel
Case (3) - The joint with spring is alone assigned with Titanium alloy as material
Contact definition
In this transient analysis there is no significane of contacts between the parts, hence no contacts are defined in the model
Joint creation
The spring end is given a fixed joint
2 Body-Ground revolute joint is created for the two end joints
Each pint joint has 4 revolute joint and thus a total of 8 Body-Body revolute joint at two pins are created
Mesh Generation
The whole model is meshed with an element size of 4mm. This mesh size can also be refined for more accurate results. As student version is used the number of nodes and elements are limited to 31K.
Analysis settings
The input motion to universal joint is given in 5 steps with following transient analysis settings.
The one end of the double universal joint is given a 150 degree rotation in 5 steps. Each step has 30 degree value.
Results
Case (1) - Structural steel
Total Deformation
Equivalent Stress
Case (2) - Stainless steel
Total Deformation
Equivalent Stress
Case (3) - Titanium alloy
Total Deformation
Equivalent Stress
Comparison of results from three cases
| Maximum Total Deformation | Maximum Equivalent Elastic Stress | Young's Modulus | |
| Structural Steel | 38.637 mm | 1494.1 MPa | 2e+05 MPa |
| Stainless Steel | 38.637 mm | 1448. MPa | 1.93e+05 MPa |
| Titanium Alloy | 38.637 mm | 737.32 MPa | 96000 MPa |
It is clearly seen that Titanium Alloy has highest inudced stress value. It is due to fact that it has low value of Young's modulus compared to structural steel and stainless steel.
Hence terms of stress inudced, stainless steel has lowest value. On the other hand Titanium Alloy has highest strength in terms of ultimate strength value. Thus depending upon
the cost and use case scenario either Stainless steel or Titanium Alloy can be chosen
Ansys file link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DAf_mFLZOKxYy9uGm5SNUxk5O1JxpGg4/view?usp=sharing