Do you know the stress and load limits of your machines? And what influence does the loading have on the operating behavior? Are the calculated values from the FEM analysis correct?
When SBM Mineral Processing GmbH was looking for a reliable partner for a DMS application and experimental stress analysis, they turned to octogon.
The subject of the project was screen floor supports with unbalanced drive, which are used for sorting various bulk materials. The goal in developing such a conveying machine is the highest possible material throughput with simultaneously low energy consumption.
Important for new designs is a long service life coupled with low material expenditure. Thin wall thicknesses and thus less weight lead to more efficient machines and lower costs. Wall thicknesses that are too thin lead to material failure and extremely high costs. This requires a strong understanding of the machine's structure. Here, the path leads through FEM analysis. But are the calculated stresses and vibrations obtained by FEM analysis correct?
This is difficult to answer for complex vibrating systems. Only an actual on-site stress analysis can provide certainty here and avoid problems in series production. Errors in calculation can be found cost-effectively and quickly on the real setup or confirm the computational model.
To perform the stress analysis on the screen floor support, several strain gauges were applied at the particularly stressed points. Subsequently, various load cases were simulated and recorded during operation. In the end, our customer was provided with a meaningful results protocol in which the initial questions could be fully answered.
The influence of the bulk material on the vibrating system can be answered with the help of experimental stress analysis.
Through the stress analysis carried out by octogon, it was possible, together with SBM Mineral Processing GmbH, to advance the development of innovative conveying machines.
