Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

In the present paper an interrupter shell assembly that forms an essential part of electrical switch gears is considered for creep analysis and subjected to thermal loads in addition to static leads actuated by circuit breakers. This exercise forms a part of the design evaluation of a new product. The shell is made out of a high strength fiberglass reinforced thermoset polyester sheet molding compound. A conventional finite element formulation based on the classical theory of semicoupled thermoelasticity is employed. The creep phenomenon is considered as an initial strain problem and a time hardening law is followed for creep analysis in the secondary zone. The structure is discretized by bilinear thick and thin flat shell isoparametric elements. Results show the contrasting deformation patterns, creep and thermomechanical stresses with the strains for two temperature cases. Creep characteristics of the shell are depicted for the entire service life of the component.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Timoshenko, S. P. and S. Woinowsky-Krieger . 1959. Theory ofPlates andShells. McGraw-Hill.

2. Boley, B. A. and J. H. Weiner . 1960. Theory of Thermal Stresses. Wiley.

3. Nowacki, W. 1962. Thermoelasticity. London: Pergamon.

4. Wu, C. H. and T. R. Tauchert . 1980. "Thermoelastic Analysis of Laminated Plates. 1: Symmetric Specially Orthotropic Laminates," J. Thermal Stresses, 3:247-259.

5. Wu, C. H. and T. R. Tauchert . 1980. "Thermoelastic Analysis of Laminated Plates. 2: Antisymmetric Cross Ply and Angle Ply Laminates," J. Thermal Stresses, 3:365-378.

6. Tauchert, T. R. 1980. "Thermoelastic Analysis of Laminated Orthotropic Slabs," J. Thermal Stresses, 3:117-132.

7. Thangaratnam, R. K. , R. Palaninathan and J. Ramachandran . 1988. "Thermal Stress Analysis of Laminated Composite Plates and Shells," Comput. Struct., 30:1403-1411.

8. Chen, L. W. and L. Y. Chen . 1990. "Thermal Deformation and Stress Analysis of Laminated Composite Plates by Finite Element Method," Comput. Struct., 35:41-56.

9. Sai Ram, K. S. and P. K. Sinha . 1991. "Hygrothermal Effects on the Bending Characteristics of Laminated Composite Plates," Comput. Struct., 40:1009-1015.

10.

10. Doxsee, L. W., Jr. 1989. "A Higher Order Theory of Hygrothermal Behavior of Laminated Composite Shells," Int. J Solids Struct., 25:339-355.

11.

11. Weinstein, F. , S. Putter and Y. Stavsky . 1983. "Thermoelastic Stress Analysis of Anisotropic Composite Sandwich Plates by Finite Element Method," Comput. Struct., 17:31-36.

12.

12. Adelman, H. M. , H. C. Lester and J. L. Rogers, Jr. 1973. "A Finite Element for Thermal Stress Analysis of Shells of Revolution," NASA TN D-7286.

13.

13. Mukherjee, N. and P. K. Sinha . 1993. "A Finite Element Analysis of Inplane Thermostructural Behavior of Composite Plates," J. Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 10:1026-1042.

14.

14. Mukherjee, N. and P. K. Sinha . 1993. "A Finite Element Analysis of Thermostructural Bending Behavior of Composite Plates," J. Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 11: 1221-1238.

15.

15. Mukherjee, N. and P. K. Sinha . 1994. "3D Thermostructural Response in Thick Laminated Composites-A Finite Element Approach," J. Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 11:976-997.

16.

16. Kraus, H. 1980. Creep Analysis. New York: Wiley.

17.

17. Mendelson, A. , M. H. Hirschberg and S. S. Manson . 1959. "A General Approach to the Practical Solution of Creep Problems," J. Bas. Engng., 81:585-593.

18.

18. Dahl, N. C. 1959. "A General Approach to the Practical Solution of Creep Problems," J. Bas. Engng., 81:595-595.

19.

19. Zienkiewicz, O. C. and I. C. Cormeau . 1974. "Viscoplasticity-plasticity and Creep in Elastic Solids-A Unified Numerical Approach," IJNME, 8:821-845.

20.

20. Nickell, R. E. 1974. Thermal Stress and Creep, Structural Mechanics Computer Programs, Charlottesville, VA: Univ. Press of Virginia, p. 103-122.

21.

21. Bushnell, D. 1977. "A Strategy for the Solution ofProblems Involving Large Deflections, Pl asticity and Creep," IJNME, 11:683-708.

22.

22. Levy, A. and A. B. Pifco . 1981. "On Computational Strategies for Problems Involving Plasticity and Creep," IJNME, 17:747-771.

23.

23. Chattopadhyay, T. 1985. "Computer Based Study of Transient Creep Problems," Proc. Indian National Science Academy, 51A, 2:358-367.

24.

24. Zienkiewicz, O. C. , S. Valiappan and I. P. King . 1969. "Elasto-Plastic Solutions of Engineering Problems: Initial Stress Finite Element Approach," IJNME, 1:75-100.

25.

25. Sharifi, P. and D. N. Yates . 1974. "Nonlinear Thermo-Elastic-Plastic and Creep Analysis by the Finite Element Method," AIAA J., 12:1210-1215.

Thermoelastic and Creep Analysis of a Reinforced Plastic Interrupter Shell Assembly

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References