Title: Studies on geometrical metallic frusta for inward inversion by finite element simulation

Authors: Ram Ranjan Sahu; Pramod Kumar Gupta

Addresses: Engineering Research Centre, TATA Motors-Pune, Through Tata Technologies, Pune, India ' Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee, (Uttarakhand), Pin 247667 India

Abstract: The shell structures are good energy absorber while undergoing large deformations. An inward inversion of shell structure is an important large deformation phenomenon which is better controlled for axial load. In the past, the inversion phenomenon has been studied on simple shell geometries like circular tubes and frusta, which were easy for manufacturing. Hence, a theoretical inward inversion study was planned on complex geometrically featured capped end shells, whose manufacturing is difficult, in practical. Their force displacement behaviour is discussed in details taking into account of effect of geometrical features and support conditions. The energy absorbed in the inversion process has taken into account the material deformation and self-contact. The energy absorbed by each sample, prior to touching disjointed part is calculated and compared. The parameters like weight, material and thickness were varied for samples to see their effect on large deformation behaviour. This paper also gives an idea on frusta geometry which can give good energy absorbing capacity.

Keywords: inward inversion; large deformation; shell structures; energy absorption; load deflection; finite element analysis; FEA; computer aided engineering; geometrical metallic frusta; simulation; force displacement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAET.2015.072604

International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology, 2015 Vol.7 No.4, pp.516 - 535

Received: 08 Jan 2014
Accepted: 28 Apr 2014
Published online: 22 Oct 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article