Structural Calculation

STR
UCTU
RAL
VERIF
ICATI
ON
Mechanical Engineer: Omar Guzmn.

Venezuela
STRUCTURAL CALCULATIONS
In order to develop the structural verification of the auto transporter

trailer, the first step is to stablish which are the critical components.
In first place, the four (4) main structure beams in red, (Figure 1).
They support the entire load placed on the structure. It is necessary to
calculate the stress and deformation and verify that they meet the
security parameters.
FIGURE 1
The next critical parts are the front and rear axles in blue, (Figure
2). It is necessary to ensure that they will resist when the structure is
fully loaded.
FIGURE 2
Available data:
Material Properties. AISI 1035 Carbon Steel.
Ultimate Stress
Yield Stress
Area Reduction
5 976 kg/cm2
3 867 kg/cm2
58 %
Load
Car
Container*
2 000 kg
800 kg/cm2
* For this study, we will consider that the car is placed inside a
container that provides protection against the environment.
MAIN STRUCTURE BEAMS CALCULATION.
The reactions on axles are calculated according to de following
expression (Figure 3):
Q
R a=
P
Q
R b=
( L2 A )
( L2 M )
P
Where:
L
M
P
A
Q
3 620 mm
1 250 mm
1 850 mm
520 mm
2 800 kg
Once we have calculated the reactions, the next step is to generate

the shear & bending moment diagrams as follows:
Note that the major shear and bending moment occurs at A, in

other words, the critical point on the beam is located on the front axis.
The results of these calculations are the following:
Ra Reaction on front axis. (Newtons)

Rb: Reaction on rear axis. (Newtons)
Ra Reaction on front axis. (Kgf)
Rb: Reaction on rear axis. (Kgf)
Mf: Bending Moment -Maximum-
19 133.8 N
8 306.16 N
1 952.43 Kg
847.57 Kg
5.92e+6 N.mm
Mf: Bending Moment -Maximum- Kg.m

Ms: Shear Force (Maximum)
Ms: Shear Force (Maximum) Kg
604.08 Kg.m
9 658.70 N
985.582 Kg
The beams used are the following:
Beam properties:
Denomination
80.40.5
a
80 mm
b
40 mm
e
5 mm
St
12 cm3
Ixx
71,60 cm4
Wx
17,90 cm3
The Bending stress is calculated as follows:
f=
Mf
4W x
f=
604,08 Kg . m
2
=8,44 e 6 Kg/ m
3
4 (1,79e-5 m )
In the equation, we use 4Wx because the load is resisted by 4 beams.

(See Figure 1)
The Shear stress is calculated as follows:

M
( s/4 )St (985,58 Kg/4) 1,2 e5
=
=8,26 e 5 Kg /m2
7
e I xx
(0,005 m) 7,16 e
=
We use Ms/4 because the load is resisted by 4 beams. (See Figure 1)
Now, calculate the Von Mises stress using the following equation:
2
VM =( F +3
1
2 2
8,44 e 6
( 2+3(8,26 e 5 )2 )
VM =
The security criterion is: The Von Mises stress must be minor than the
material Yield Stress.
VM < Sy
The security factor will be:
Sy
3867 kg /cm 2
=
=
=4,51
VM 856,04 kg/cm 2
An acceptable security factor is >3, in this case, the structure meets
the security requirements.
AXLES. STRUCTURAL CALCULATION.

We have calculated the reactions on front and rear axles, however,
these calculations are valid only when the trailer is in a static position or
moving at constant velocity.
When the trailer is under acceleration or breaking, there are

additional forces acting on axles, produced by the inertia. This
phenomenon is known as load transfer.
Available Data:
Load
Structure mass
Ra (Reaction on Front axis)
Rb (Reaction on Rear axis)
ra Reaction Front axis. Unloadedrb Reaction Rear axis. Unloaded-
2 800 Kg
460 Kg
1 952,43 Kg
847,57 Kg
230 Kg
230 Kg
Acceleration & Braking analysis.

These are the forces acting on the structure when the trailer is
pulled forward (acceleration):
FIGURE 3
c.g is the center of gravity of the arrangement: container +

vehicle, it means, the center of gravity of the total load placed on the
structure.
The sum of moments around b is as follows:
l
R a ' . PP . raI .h+ Q( a)=0
2
Therefore:
Q
R a' =
( L2 A ) +ra Ih
P
By analogy, the reaction on Rear axis under acceleration is the

following:
Q
R b' =
( L2 + M ) +rb+ Ih
P
Thus, when the structure accelerates, the rear axis reaction

increases Ih/P and the front axis reaction decreases the same quantity.
When braking, the load transfer occurs in the opposite way, there is
a load increase on front axis and a decrease on rear axis.
Note that the load transfer produced by the structure mass is
normally very low, therefore, it is not considered.
The inertia force produced by the loads center of gravity is
calculated according to the following expression:
I=
Q
a
g
Where:
Q: Load.
a: maximum acceleration during braking or acceleration.
g: gravitys acceleration.
The maximum acceleration during braking is calculated according

to: a=a.g where a is the coefficient of adhesion.
For this study, well consider a=1.
Finally, the reactions on each axis when the structure is accelerated
are the following:
Q
'
Ra =
( L2 A ) Qah +ra=Ra+ra Qah

P
Q
R b' =
gP
gP
( L2 M ) + Qah +rb=Rb+rb + Qah

P
gP
gP
When braking, the expressions turn to:

Q
'
Ra =
Q
R b' =
( L2 A ) + Qah =Ra+ra+ Qah

gP
gP
( L2 M ) Qah =Rb+rb Qah

P
gP
gP
Data:
Load
Ra (Reaction on Front axis)
Rb (Reaction on Rear axis)
ra Reaction Front axis. Unloadedrb Reaction Rear axis. Unloadedh distance between the c.g and axis
a maximum acceleration a=a.g
g Gravitys acceleration
P
2 800 Kg
1 952,43 Kg
847,57 Kg
230 Kg
230 Kg
900 mm
9,8 m/s2
9,8 m/s2
1 850 mm
The results of the calculations are the following:

Accelerating.
Ra
Rb
820,27 Kg
2 439,73 Kg
Braking
Ra
Rb
3 544.59 Kg
-284,59 Kg
The negative sign means that during a hard braking, the rear axis
will be completely unloaded during few seconds. Note that theres an
important increase of load on Front axis.
Since the axles are actually divided in left axis and right axis, the
load calculated is divided by 2.
In order to develop de stress analysis, we will consider the most
unfavorable situation, in this case, the front axles during a violent
braking.
The study will consider either the right or left Front axis.
Stress Analysis.
FIGURE 4
The Right Front axis free body diagram will be as follows:
FIGURE 5
The data available is the following:

Ra/2
L
L
Material: Carbon Steel AISI C1095
Yield Stress
Ultimate Stress
Area Reduction
1 772,3 Kg
220 mm
786 mm
5 624 Kg/cm2
9 913 Kg/cm2
16 %
It is time to generate the Shear and Bending moment diagrams in

order to locate the critical point of the shaft.
The critical point is the most vulnerable point. If the shaft would fail,
securely it will happen at the critical point.
FIGURE 6
In this case, the critical point is on A.

The results of the calculations are the following:
Shear Force at A Vz
Bending Moment at A Mf
Shear Force at A Vz
Bending Moment at A
Structural properties of the shaft:
17 368,5 N
3,82 e+6 N.mm
1 772,3 Kg
3,89 e+5 Kg.mm
Diameter
Thickness
Wx
St
Ixx
76,2
2,25
9,39
12,3
35,8
mm
mm
cm3
cm3
cm4
The Bending stress is:

f=
M f 389 Kg . m
=
=4,14 e 7 Kg/m 2
W x 9,39 e6 m3
Now, the Shear Stress is calculated as follows:

=
V z S t 1772,3 Kg 1,23 e5
7
2
=
=2,71e Kg / m
e I xx ( 0,00225 m ) 3,58 e7
2
VM =( F +3
1
2 2
VM =( (4,14 e 7)2 +3(2,71 e 7)2 ) 2 =6,26 e7
Kg
=6258,75 kg/cm 2
m2

=
Sy
5624 kg /cm 2
=
=0,89< 3
VM 6285,75 kg /cm 2
The security factor doesnt meet the standard, so that,

theres an imminent breaking danger while braking.
Static analysis.
The only difference is that we wont consider the mass transfer
phenomena.
Ra
L
L
1 091,22 Kg
220 mm
786 mm
Generating the Shear and Bending moment diagrams in order to

locate the critical point of the shaft.
FIGURE 7
Shear Force at A Vz
Bending Moment at A Mf
Shear Force at A Vz
Bending Moment at A
Structural Properties of the shaft.
10 693 N
2,35 e+6 N.mm
1 091,22 Kg
239,63 Kg.m
Diameter
Thickness
Wx
St
Ixx
76,2
2,25
9,39
12,3
35,8
mm
mm
cm3
cm3
cm4
The Bending stress is:

f=
M f 239,63 Kg. m
=
=2,55 e7 Kg/m2
6 3
Wx
9,39 e m
Now, the Shear Stress is calculated as follows:

=
V z S t 1091,22 Kg 1,23 e5
7
2
=
=1,67 e Kg/ m
e I xx ( 0,00225 m ) 3,58 e7
2
VM =( F +3
1
2 2
VM =( (2,55 e 7)2 +3(1,67 e7 )2 ) 2 =3,86 e 7
Kg
=3856,06 kg /cm2
m2

=
Sy
5624 kg /cm 2
=
=1,45
VM 3856,06 kg /cm 2
This security factor is enough to ensure that the shaft will

resist, however is lower than the standard (>3), therefore, Its
highly recommended to change the design.
FEA ANALYSIS.
Now, we will corroborate all the calculations using Finite Element
Analysis.
1. Main Beam.
Von Mises Stress.
Deformation.
2. Axles.
Von Mises Stress.
Deformation.
Additional FEA
Anchoring Structure:
Von Mises:
Displacement:
Frame:
Von Mises:
Note that the Von Mises Stress has decreased because the load has been distributed
among the complete frame. This result is very close to the real structural behavior.
Displacement:

Structural Calculation

Uploaded by

Structural Calculation

Uploaded by

STR

Mechanical Engineer: Omar Guzmn.

In order to develop the structural verification of the auto transporter

Once we have calculated the reactions, the next step is to generate

Note that the major shear and bending moment occurs at A, in

Ra Reaction on front axis. (Newtons)

Mf: Bending Moment -Maximum- Kg.m

The beams used are the following:

In the equation, we use 4Wx because the load is resisted by 4 beams.

The Shear stress is calculated as follows:

AXLES. STRUCTURAL CALCULATION.

When the trailer is under acceleration or breaking, there are

Acceleration & Braking analysis.

c.g is the center of gravity of the arrangement: container +

By analogy, the reaction on Rear axis under acceleration is the

Thus, when the structure accelerates, the rear axis reaction

The maximum acceleration during braking is calculated according

( L2 A ) Qah +ra=Ra+ra Qah

( L2 M ) + Qah +rb=Rb+rb + Qah

When braking, the expressions turn to:

( L2 A ) + Qah =Ra+ra+ Qah

( L2 M ) Qah =Rb+rb Qah

The results of the calculations are the following:

The Right Front axis free body diagram will be as follows:

The data available is the following:

It is time to generate the Shear and Bending moment diagrams in

In this case, the critical point is on A.

The Bending stress is:

Now, the Shear Stress is calculated as follows:

VM =( (4,14 e 7)2 +3(2,71 e 7)2 ) 2 =6,26 e7

The security factor will be:

The security factor doesnt meet the standard, so that,

Generating the Shear and Bending moment diagrams in order to

The Bending stress is:

Now, the Shear Stress is calculated as follows:

VM =( (2,55 e 7)2 +3(1,67 e7 )2 ) 2 =3,86 e 7

The security factor will be:

This security factor is enough to ensure that the shaft will

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