A Numerical Study of the Induced Stresses in the Separation Points of the Tensile Element (Chain) of the Plate Conveyor Used in the Blowing Unit in Water Factories

Abstract

The Induced Stresses in Tensile Element Joints (chain) were Studied in Two Phases: The first phase is to conduct a design study of the plate conveyor to determine the maximum tensile strength to which the joint is exposed. Then build two models, the first one represents a single joint with its components (wedge- copper ring- plate) with the basic dimensions and measurements of the chain. The second model was designed with new dimensions to suit the conveyor's working conditions. In the second phase, the three-dimension finite elements method was used to identify the stresses induced in the joint for both models and then compare the results to identify the model that shows the best performance. The result showed that increasing the external thickness of the joint by double in the proposed model up to the value of 6 mm was able to provide a homogeneous distribution of the main induced stress, which contributed to reducing the critical values of these stresses compared to the induced stresses in the model currently used. Consequently, increasing the external thickness of the joint has played an important role in reducing stresses, which leads to an increase the service life of the plate conveyor chain.