Name : Alessandro D.

Armodia

Date Submitted : November 27, 2017

Project/Study : Engineering Technologies and Innovations: Global

Trends, Local Actions

Article Review : #2

Article Details:

Exploitation of Finite Element Method for Design Analysis of Sugarcane

Harvester

Francisco Munsayac

Date Retrieved: November 25, 2017

I. What the article is about?

The articles focuses mainly on Finite Element Analysis of the blade of the
Sugarcane Harvester and what properties it should possess to be able to
perform its designated work more efficiently. The study talks about the
importance of the mechanical properties of the materials to be used in
Sugarcane Harvester. The researcher used FEA software to analyze and
gather important data which are significant factors that can affect the overall
performance of the harvester.

Using SAE 1020 carbon steel, the researcher conducted 5 experiments to

test which angle of contact would be most efficient relative to its performance.
Several angles were used namely; 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, and
180 degrees. A serrated type of material was also included in the experiment.
After 5 tests on each respective angles, the researcher was able to find out
that deformation would be more prominent on the 60 degree angle of contact
of the blade. Furthermore, the study also concluded that a serrated type of
material would generate the largest von mises stress among the other
categories. This means that the serrated type of material would be more
susceptible to fatigue.

II. Synthesis of Major Concepts, Theories or Information

1. The closer the contact of angle of the blade to 90 degrees the greater
deformation it would experience since it has a bigger surface area
experiencing impact.

2. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a computer software that analyzes how

applied stresses affects a given material using finite element method. FEA is
used widely in determining important statistics and data which a given material
would experience or generate under given conditions. The Finite Element
Analysis (FEA) is the simulation of any given physical phenomenon using the
numerical technique called Finite Element Method (FEM). Engineers use it to
reduce the number of physical prototypes and experiments and optimize
components in their design phase to develop better products, faster. (Jacob
Fish and Ted Belytschko, “A First Course in Finite Elements by Jacob Fish and
Ted Belytschko”, Wiley, 2007)

3. Von Mises stress is a value used to determine if a given material will yield or
fracture. It is mostly used for ductile materials, such as metals. The von Mises
yield criterion states that if the von Mises stress of a material under load is
equal or greater than the yield limit of the same material under simple tension
— which is easy to determine experimentally —, then the material will yield.
(Armenàkas, A. E., “Advanced Mechanics of Materials and Applied Elasticity”,
2006)