Comparative Finite Element Analysis of a Novel Robot Chassis Using Structural Steel and Aluminium Alloy Materials

Abstract

This work presents a comparative finite element analysis of a 3-wheeler novel robot chassis used for uneven terrain robot applications. The chassis was modeled using SolidWorks and further analyzed in Ansys for its total deformation, equivalent stress, equivalent elastic strain and thermal strain. Two materials were taken into consideration for comparative analysis: Aluminium alloy and Structural steel. A load (force) of 500 N was distributed on the chassis uniformly and an acceleration of 5 mm/sec2 was given. Thermal conditions were added by raising the temperature from 22°C to 50°C in 1 sec. The analysis performed was majorly divided into three parts: a) Only considering force, b) Considering force as well as acceleration, c) Considering force, acceleration and thermal conditions. Total deformation in Aluminium alloy was observed 1.51 to 2.79 times that of structural steel in all the cases. Both metals exhibited almost identical equivalent stress in absence of thermal effect and structural steel exhibit 1.5 times that of Aluminium alloy at elevated temperature. Aluminium alloy possess relatively more (1.86-2.63 times) equivalent elastic strain compared to structural steel. Although, distribution of thermal strain remained constant throughout the chassis for both the materials, its magnitude was 1.91 times high in Aluminium alloy. This type of analysis helps in evaluating the current design and decide whether it will sustain the required load and acceleration under given thermal conditions