TOPOLOGICAL OPTIMIZATION OF THE DRIVE LEVER OF THE MODULAR ROTARY PLANT FOR A CITY FARM

Abstract

The design of automated block-modular devices for growing fresh vitamin products in urban agriculture is becoming urgent. Topological optimization of components and parts of these devices will significantly reduce the cost of products, reduce the material and weight and preserve their strength and rigidity. The article gives an example of topological optimization of the drive lever of a modular rotary installation for city farms. (Research purpose) The research purpose is to optimize topologically the drive lever of a modular rotary installation for city farms, to reduce material consumption and to reduce the weight of the part. (Materials and methods) The SolidWorks program was used as a computer-aided design system, which allows for topological optimization of parts. The methods of manufacturing topologically optimized parts are: additive technologies (3D printing), casting technologies, manufacturing of composite materials under pressure, cutting processing. (Results and discussion) The article presents the stages of topological optimization of the drive lever, including the preparation of computer-aided design of the lever geometry, static analysis of the initial model, creation of a parametric grid, processing of a topologically optimized model of the drive lever, the results of primary static analysis, the output of data plots of static displacement, the output of data plots for the safety margin of the material. (Conclusions) According to the results of the study, the mass of the topologically optimized drive lever decreased by 42 percent, as a result, the safety margin of the part decreases, which entails an increase in the operating stress up to 183 megapascals, but taking into account the strength of steel 45, the stresses remain within acceptable values (530 megapascals).