156B Week 3

Week 3 Accomplishments:

A surface-level shear force analysis was completed to determine whether how much shear force each bolt undergoes for a turbine configuration at a 45 degree slope. More information and reasearch was gathered in order to better understand the necessities in terms of  finding the ideal clamp spacing. It was determined that the clamps would have a different behavior when compared to the bolts because the force exerted by the clamps would be additive. 

Test rig CAD and BOM was further updated to reflect capabilities of machine shop. 

Goals for Next Week (list names after each item). Due by sponsor meeting on Wednesdays.

1. Continue working on finding the ideal model for spacing of the clamps.

2. Professor Ghazinejad hopes to provide an informational session on fasteners which will allow for further understanding of the problem.

3. Pugh chart comparing clamps.

4. Finalize test rig and submit to machine shop for manufatcuring (dependent on clamp spacing).

Sponsor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)

In person (via Microsoft teams):

1. Shear analysis for the 45 degree configuration is good. However, the prioritization is the upright (90 degree) configuration.

2. An analytical model to determine clamp spacing is desired, however, if it is not achieved, measurements and trials by hand can be okay to determine the ideal clamp spacing.

3. Recommened to use FEA model (i.e. ANSYS) to find even deformation of gasket.

Instructor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments  (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)

In persion (via Zoom):

1. Overall analysis to find an ideal model for spacing will be very difficult and involved. Clamps behave differently from bolts, and therefore an initial guess of no more than 5 clamps per side seems realistic.

2. Explore more materials properties of gaskets. Use Hooke's law and with deformation, stress can be determined to find Force total needed for a given deformation (i.e. 50% which is arbitrarily large).

3. Larger/more adequate vacuum pump may be needed for the test rig for a better simulation. 

Comments from Other Students in the Class (indicate date of comments and if via email or in person)

None

Risks and Areas of Concern

1. Prototype testing may not ideally simulate the reeal conditions. Solar Turbines may need to provide more help themselves to facilitate testing.

2. Finding a true analytical relationship to clamp spacing may be too difficult. 

3. Clamp spacing is still going to possibly be an issue if not solved.

Resources or Information Required but not Available

1. Motives behind solar turbines choose the current implementation of 60 bolts on their ancillary inlet system. 

2. No additional resources to assist in testing our prototype model.

Schedule

• Refer to the Gantt Chart 

Budget (list amount spent and amount remaining)

spent: $0

remaining: $1800