The paper presents a model of a rapping system of an electrostatic precipitator. The rapping system consists of a set of collecting electrodes hanging on a suspension bar and braced together in a brushing bar. The suspension and brushing bars are modeled using the rigid finite element method, while the collecting plates are modeled using the hybrid method. The method combines the rigid finite element method with the classical finite element method. As a result, the mass matrix is diagonal. Some results of numerical simulations concerning free vibrations of the collecting plates and the influence of the number of elements, into which the plate is divided, on the vibrations of the rapping system are presented.
The paper presents a model of an articulated vehicle with a flexible frame of a semi-trailer. The rigid finite element method in a modified formulation is used for discretisation of the frame. In order to carry out effective numerical simulation, a reduced model with a considerably smaller number of degrees of freedom is proposed. The parameters of the reduced model are chosen in an optimization process by using a genetic algorithm. To this end, it is assumed that the full and reduced model have to be similar in the range of static deflections and frequencies of free vibrations. Numerical simulations are concerned with the influence of the flexibility of the frame on the motion of the articulated vehicle during an overtaking maneuver. Results are presented and discussed.
The paper presents a spatial model of the satellite antenna with an arbitrary number of flexible arms. Such a system is an example of an open kinematic chain with a tree-like structure. The modification of the rigid finite element method is used to discretise flexible links. The equations of motion are derived from the Lagrange equations and the motion of the system is described using joint coordinates and homogenous transformations. Numerical simulations have been carried out to analyse how the method of extending the arms influences the dynamics of the system.
The rigid finite element method (RFEM) has been used mainly for modelling systems with beam-like links. This paper deals with modelling of a single set of electrodes consisting of an upper beam with electrodes, which are shells with complicated shapes, and an anvil beam. Discretisation of the whole system, both the beams and the electrodes, is carried out by means of the rigid finite element method. The results of calculations concerned with free vibrations of the plates are compared with those obtained from a commercial package of the finite element method (FEM), while forced vibrations of the set of electrodes are compared with those obtained by means of the hybrid finite element method (HFEM) and experimental measurements obtained on a special test stand.
Dry electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) are widely used for purification of exhaust gases in industrial applications. Maintenance of their high efficiency depends primarily on periodical cleaning of the collecting electrodes (CEs). Dust removal (regeneration of CEs) is realized by inducing periodical vibrations of the electrodes. The paper presents results of vibration modelling of a system of CEs; the results were obtained by means of the finite element method, the hybrid finite element method, the finite strip method and a model formulated using Abaqus. Numerical results are compared with those obtained from experimental measurements. Conclusions concerning numerical effectiveness and exactness of the methods are formulated and reasons for differences are discussed.
The paper presents an application of the modified rigid finite element method to analysis of the dynamics of slender structures. The equations of motion are formulated for a system discretized by means of the method, and discussion is limited to planar systems and large deformations. Slender elements can be found in offshore engineering as lines, cables and risers. In these cases the hydrostatic influence of water and sea currents has to be taken into account. While analyzing dynamics of risers it may also be necessary to consider the flow of fluid inside the riser. The influence of hydrodynamic coefficients and the velocity of the internal flow of fluid on displacements and forces is presented.
The paper presents the dynamic model of an A-frame, which is a kind of an offshore crane with a portal construction. The rigid finite element method (RFEM) has been used in discretization of the flexible substructure. An application of optimisation methods to define the drive function course of the hoisting winch is presented. The goal of the optimisation is to ensure stabilization of the load’s position. In order to achieve appropriate numerical effectiveness, the optimisation problem has been solved for a simplified model of an A-frame. Comparison of numerical results obtained for different types of objective functions and types of drive functions is presented in the paper as well.