Introduction: Simulation Study of a Cantilever Beam
In this project I have analysed a cantilever Beam , for a Force acting on its
free end.
This project is developed in the environment of fusion 360 of Autodesk.
In this project I have used the model and simulation environment of Fusion 360.
In this project I have studied about of stress acting on the cantilever beam , the displacement caused
due to the applied force, the reaction force developed, the strain developed in the body and also about
the factor of safety.
Step 1: Sketching
In this step I am in the model work space of fusion 360.
Then I have drawn a rectangle.
Then I have drawn another rectangle , keeping both rectangle in touch,
to each other.
Step 2: Extrusion
In this step I am in the model work space of fusion 360.
Then I have extruded the sketch drawn in previous step.
Then I have got a set of perpendicular beams .
Step 3: Constraints and Force
In this step I am in the simulation work space of fusion 360.
Then I have applied structural constraint on the faces of vertical beam.
The material of beam is steel.
Then I have applied a force of 50 N on the upper edge of free end , of
the cantilever beam.
Step 4: Stress
In this step I am in the simulation work space of fusion 360.
Then I have analysed the cantilever beam about the force of 50 N
applied on the free end, and the stress developed due to this force.
The material used in this project is steel cantilever beam.
The blue region shows minimum stress.
The red region shows maximum stress.
We can see that red region is close to the junction of these perpendicular beams.
The SI unit of stress is Newton per meter square.
In this case maximum value of stress is 24.4 M Pa.
The minimum value of stress in this case is 1.421 E-19 M Pa.
Step 5: Displacement
In this step I am in the simulation work space of fusion 360.
In this step I have analysed the body for the displacement caused due to the applied
force of 50 N.
The red region shown in the picture represents maximum displacement.
The blue region shown in the picture represents minimum displacement.
We can see that maximum displacement is close to the free end.
As we move from right to left from the free end of cantilever beam displacement
gradually decreases.
SI unit of displacement is meters.
Displacement is a vector quantity.
Vector quantity have both magnitude and direction.
In this case value of maximum displacement is 0.07272 mm.
In this case value of minimum displacement is 0 mm.
Step 6: Reaction Force
In this step I am in the simulation work space of fusion 360.
In this step I have analysed the body about the reaction force produced ,
due to the force of 50 N applied on the free end.
The red region shows maximum value of reaction force.
The blue region shows minimum value of reaction force.
In this case maximum value of reaction force is 246.5 N.
In this case minimum value of reaction force is 0 N.
We can see the red spot is produced , where the upper face of cantilever beam touches
the vertical beam.
Step 7: Strain
In this step I am in the simulation work space of fusion 360.
In this step I have analysed the cantilever beam for the strain ,
produced due to the application of force of 50 N on the free end.
The red region shows maximum value of strain.
The blue region shows minimum value of strain.
We can see that maximum strain produced near the junction of these two
perpendicular beams.
Strain is defined as the ratio of change in length to the original length ,
hence strain has no units.
In this case maximum value of strain is 1.043 E -04.
In this case minimum value of strain is 0.
Step 8: Factor of Safety
In this step I am in the simulation work space of fusion 360.
In this step I have analysed the body about the factor of safety.
Factor of safety is defined as the ratio of maximum load that a body can bear to
the safe load applied on the body.
The maximum factor of safety in this case is 15.
The minimum value of factor of safety in this case is 8.482.
We can see that maximum value of factor of safety is required , near the junction and at the
bottom face of cantilever beam.
We can also observe that minimum value of factor is required at the top face of
cantilever beam , at a little distance from the junction.