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General Information
Pimasa S.L. requires a finite element analysis (FEA) for two depressurization tools in order to obtain a certification for the use of these tools in pressure barrels.
Both tools are made of annealed AISI 304 stainless steel, and have a depressurization load of 280N applied on their lower part, and a maximum screwing/unscrewing torque of 80Nm in the slot intended for this purpose.
The objective of this project is to determine that these assemblies remain in the elastic regime of the described material. This will provide certainty in the certification, under the loads of use, that both assemblies do not bend or break and return to their original position when the loads cease without permanent deformation.
FEA Calculation
For tool Grundy, there are 4 parts whose yield limit is exceeded before the tested loads: the head joint, lever arm, long pin and long bolted pin.
These 4 parts support over all the 80Nm torque passing from the lever arm to the constraints defined in the assembly, so it was decided to change the material of manufacture of these parts to AISI 420 +QT800 whose yield strength rises to 600 MPa. In this way, these parts remain within their elastic range.
For tool Sanky, there are no important areas in the assembly where the elastic yield strength of the AISI 304 material set at 255MPa is exceeded.
There is only one point where this occurs, but it is a localized yielding that does not have a major influence on the performance of the tool.
Conclusions
Tools Grundy and Sanky have been analyzed by means of the finite element method (FEM) according to the proposed loads, so that they never exceed their yield limit, causing the assemblies to recover their position, without any significant yielding that could influence their performance.
For tools Grundy, it is decided to change the material to one with a higher yield strength to guarantee its elastic regime.
