Final Project Dynamic Analysis of a Dish Support

Usman Asad

1. Modal Analysis:
The dish and support were modeled using an 8-node SHELL element and a beam element. Free quad
meshing was performed. Shell and Beam attributes and material properties were entered in the model.

The bottom of the leg supports were constrained for all four legs. Modal analysis was performed using
Full Method (Block Lanczos). These are the resulting frequencies:
Sr # Frequency
1. 83.94 Hz
2. 103.78 Hz
3. 124.80 Hz
4. 135.76 Hz
5. 157.86 Hz

The mode shapes are shown in the following figures:

1
X Y
Z

FEB 28 2012
14:43:02
ELEMENTS

1
st
Mode 83.94 Hz

(Repeated) 1
st
Mode 83.9 Hz
1
X
Y
Z

FEB 28 2012
15:19:47
DISPLACEMENT
STEP=1
SUB =1
FREQ=83.9407
DMX =2.63145
1
X
Y
Z

FEB 28 2012
15:20:01
DISPLACEMENT
STEP=1
SUB =2
FREQ=83.943
DMX =2.63119

2
nd
Mode 103.17 Hz

3
rd
Mode 124.8 Hz

1
X
Y
Z

FEB 28 2012
15:20:10
DISPLACEMENT
STEP=1
SUB =3
FREQ=103.171
DMX =3.13526
1
X
Y
Z

FEB 28 2012
15:20:22
DISPLACEMENT
STEP=1
SUB =4
FREQ=124.817
DMX =4.67859

4
th
Mode 135.8 Hz

(Repeated) 4
th
Mode 135.8 Hz
1
X
Y
Z

FEB 28 2012
15:20:30
DISPLACEMENT
STEP=1
SUB =5
FREQ=135.775
DMX =5.34959
1
X
Y
Z

FEB 28 2012
15:20:40
DISPLACEMENT
STEP=1
SUB =6
FREQ=135.775
DMX =5.34998

5
th
Mode 158 Hz
2. Transient Analysis:
For the transient analysis, the values of , and t were first calculated:
For calculation of and , the values for the lowest and highest natural frequencies within our range of
interest (50Hz -200Hz) were used. Using
1
=83.9 x 2 rad/s and
2
= 158 x 2 rad/s in the equation:
=

2
+

2

This may be rewritten as:
=
2

=
2(

Using =0.01, we get =6.9035 and =1.315 x 10
-5
For t, using N=25 and f
max
= 200 Hz in the equation:
t =
1
N

We get t = 0.0002 sec
1
X
Y
Z

FEB 28 2012
15:20:46
DISPLACEMENT
STEP=1
SUB =7
FREQ=158.058
DMX =2.27264
These values of , and t are used in Solution Options. A force of 10,000 lbs at appropriate location for
0.01 seconds, and transient analysis was performed.

The vertical displacement of the center of the dish is plotted against time. The force becomes active at
0.01 seconds and remains active till 0.02 seconds

The critical time is found to be 0.015 seconds (0.005 seconds after application of force)
1
X Y
Z

FEB 28 2012
14:52:08
ELEMENTS
U
ROT
F
-.12
-.1
-.08
-.06
-.04
-.02
0
.02
.04
.06
.08
VALU
0
.4
.8
1.2
1.6
2
2.4
2.8
3.2
3.6
4
TIME
(x10**-2)
Stress in the legs and dish at this time are shown in the plots below:

The excessive stress in the shell is because of the singularity caused by application of force at a point.
This may have a lower value is a finer mesh is used. However, it is clear the stresses in both shell and
beams exceed the allowable stresses and the unit will fail under specified load.
1
MN
MX
X Y
Z

214.417
8080.16
15945.9
23811.6
31677.4
39543.1
47408.9
55274.6
63140.4
71006.1
FEB 28 2012
15:08:17
NODAL SOLUTION
STEP=2
SUB =25
TIME=.015
SEQV (AVG)
DMX =.474101
SMN =214.417
SMX =71006.1
1
MN
MX
X
Y
Z

103.988
14154.3
28204.7
42255
56305.4
70355.7
84406.1
98456.4
112507
126557
FEB 28 2012
15:16:01
NODAL SOLUTION
STEP=2
SUB =25
TIME=.015
SEQV (AVG)
DMX =.561061
SMN =103.988
SMX =126557
3. Modified system
To stiffen up the support system, additional bracing is provided between the four legs and the dish to
reinforce the vulnerable spot weld between the leg and shell and to increase the lowest natural
frequency of the system to greater than 100 Hz. The modified system is shown below:

The natural frequencies of the modified are shown below:
Sr # Frequency
1. 108.4 Hz (Repeated)
2. 137.9 Hz
3. 149.2 Hz
4. 162.3 Hz (Repeated)
5. 166.2 Hz

The additional bracing adds 6.325 inches of beam per leg. The total mass added is given by:
= 4 = 57.28
The weight of the original system can be calculated geometrically using the equation for volume of a
partial sphere. The weight of the original system = 239.36 lb, whereas the weight of the modified
system is 296.64 lb
1
X
Y
Z

FEB 28 2012
15:23:47
ELEMENTS
U
ROT
The first mode shape is shown in the figure below:

1
X
Y
Z

FEB 28 2012
15:25:57
DISPLACEMENT
STEP=1
SUB =1
FREQ=108.438
DMX =2.07296
U
ROT