TITLE:
Application of Finite Elements Method for Structural Analysis in a Coffee Harvester
AUTHORS:
Evandro Pereira da Silva, Fábio Moreira da Silva, Ricardo Rodrigues Magalhães
KEYWORDS:
Finite Elements Method; Stress Concentration; Static Simulation; Coffee Harvester
JOURNAL NAME:
Engineering,
Vol.6 No.3,
March
7,
2014
ABSTRACT:
Stress concentration and large displacements
are usual problems in the components of the structure of agricultural machinery
such harvesters coffee, and that finite element method (FEM) can be a tool to
minimize its effects. The goal of this paper is to get results of stresses and
displacements of a coffee harvester structure by using FEM for static
simulation. The main parts of the coffee harvester analyzed were: engine frame,
body right and left sides, front and rear end, main beam, coffee reservoir,
wheels and fuel tank. Two different design concepts of a coffee harvester
machine were analyzed (structure with rear wheels aligned and misaligned) and
the results were compared. It was observed that the model with rear wheels
misaligned showed maximum displacement lower than the model with rear wheels
aligned. Although higher stress was found in the rear wheels misaligned, it was
observed that average stresses for the misaligned wheels design were lower in
most structural components analyzed. Based on FEM results, the coffee harvester
machine with misaligned rear wheels was built and subjected to operational
tests without showing any structural failure.