Abstract
The distribution of furniture sold in the form of flat packages requires the use of appropriate design solutions. These include joints, which need to facilitate self-assembly with no need to use tools. Such joints should be functional, aesthetically attractive, durable and safe to use. It was decided in this study to manufacture prototypes of innovative furniture joints and evaluate the quality of furniture assembled using these joints. For this purpose, the finite element method and the Abaqus program were used. Joints were modelled as objects made of polylactide (PLA). Surface to surface contact and assembly forces resulting from the construction of joints were introduced between the elements of the joint. The furniture case was subjected to torsional loads. The rigidity of furniture and stress distribution in joints were calculated. On the basis of numerical calculations, the joints were positively validated.
Highlights
It was decided in this study to manufacture prototypes of innovative furniture joints and evaluate the quality of furniture assembled using these joints
The furniture case was subjected to torsional loads
This, in turn, is associated with the development of appropriate numerical models of furniture joints in the environment of software calculating with the assistance of the finite elements method (FEM)
Summary
Furniture design and construction is an applied art and, as such, it must take into consideration aesthetic and functional preferences and fashion trends, and rigidity and strength requirements. A realistic representation of the examined structure in the FEM environment is very labourconsuming, and requires numerous corrections of mesh geometry and meticulous determination of linear elastic properties of applied materials (Dzięgielewski and Smardzewski, 1996; Kasal, 2008, Kasal et al, 2008a, b; Smardzewski, 2004a, b; Smardzewski, 2005) It is more practical, but effective, to replace joints with semi-rigid joints (Kłos, Smardzewski, 2004; Nicholls, Crisan, 2002; Smardzewski, Kłos, 2004; Smardzewski, Ożarska, 2005; Smardzewski, Prekrat, 2002, 2005). Smardzewski et al (2013) determined the effect of creeping on changes in the rigidity of selected joints used in the structures of upholstered furniture, expressed as the substitute modulus of elasticity For this reason, an attempt was made to elaborate a method for simplified modelling of furniture joint stiffness for the needs of numerical calculations (Smardzewski and Kłos, 2011; Smardzewski et al, 2013). The numerical calculations were performed using the Abaqus v.6.16 programme (Dassault Systemes Simulia Corp., Waltham, Ma, USA) at the Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Centre in the Eagle cluster
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