Method for increasing the strength and durability of thin-walled elements in metal structures

Abstract

Introduction. The abundance of numerical simulation approaches and engineering solutions, including the use of technical software packages, fails to find an appropriate universal method for increasing such a significant parameter as the durability of building structures.

Aim. To conduct tests of structural elements with specified parameters; to assess possible options of artificial elastic and low-modulus materials for damping structures, including their components, by the example of metal bridge beams.

Materials and methods. The study uses numerical assessment methods based on the parametric analysis of the cantilever and overhead crane beams by solving second-order differential equations. The frequency analysis of beams was carried out using computer simulation in the SolidWorks software environment. The obtained values of the logarithmic strength reduction indicators for metal bridge structures were compared with generally accepted reference values in certain ranges. The initial data of the numerical calculations for the bridge crane included the lifting capacity of 20 t and span of 19.5 m. The initial dimensions of the cross-section for the steel bridge beam were selected based on the methodology by V.E. Dus’e, Yu.V. Navarskii, and V.P. Zhegul’skii: H = 1.1 m; b = 0.6 m; S = 9 mm.

Results. Numerical and computer simulation has demonstrated the possibility of increasing the durability of structural elements in technical equipment damped by insulating materials. However, fatigue characteristics of the filler and its adhesion to the metal should be tested. An appropriate solution can be obtained provided the studied in detail layout of the insulating material inside the structure.

Conclusions. For optimization problems, it is necessary to conduct an assessment of the project cost. At the same time, the presented results show that this damping method has good prospects in terms of increasing the strength and durability of metal structural elements.