Holy Spirit University of Kaslik

Finite Element Analysis

GEN 450 WEEK 15

Project
Design for a Hangar

Due: Week 15
Total marks = 15

Dr. Jad Antonios Jelwan

Aerospace and Mechanical Engineer
Spring 2020
 Holy Spirit University of Kaslik

Finite Element Analysis

Background:

An aircraft hangar is unlike any other building project. It’s a very specialized kind of construction, with unique requirements like weight factors, span factors
and large hangar door specifications.

As it can be a complicated building project, you may want to consider hiring a contractor who specializes in aircraft hangars to assemble your new building.

However, as a civil engineer student you should provide the contractor a good design taking into consideration the safety issues and other different
constraints such as:

Strength: Steel is one of the strongest construction materials available on the market, and provides maximum stability and resilience against even the
strongest winds. Using only the highest quality steel and premium components, these hangars provide incredible strength with straight walls, square
corners and sturdy studs and joists. Although a lightweight material, a metal hangar is always well-secured and bolted to its concrete foundation, ensuring
strength and protection against even the strongest winds.

Durability: steel aircraft hangars are resistant to mold growth, mildew, and termites, and won’t warp or crack, resulting in minimal maintenance and lower
ownership costs. Building a steel airplane hangar will save you time now and later, promising years of superior storage and protection.

Fire Proof: steel is non-combustible, and is the best construction material option for storing a costly investment like an airplane. Prepare to see your
insurance premiums drop when you assemble a prefabricated aircraft hangar, and rest easy knowing your airplane is protected from fire damage.

Speed of Construction: Pilots know the value of speed in the skies, and choosing a hangar is no exception. Manufactured with laser-cut precision, pre-
welded, and pre-drilled parts, the components of a pre-engineered hangar building can be fitted together and erected quickly and easily. Whether you
choose to construct it yourself, or hire a contractor, know that time is on your side with a prefabricated hangar building.

Customizable Designs: modern hangars can be custom designed with a plethora of paint colours, trim styles, or finishes to suit your lofty desires. Even the
doors and door mechanisms are customizable and self-installable, saving you money in every step of construction. For further information see the pictures.

Dr. Jad Antonios Jelwan

Aerospace and Mechanical Engineer
Spring 2020
 Holy Spirit University of Kaslik

Finite Element Analysis

Dr. Jad Antonios Jelwan

Aerospace and Mechanical Engineer
Spring 2020
 Holy Spirit University of Kaslik

Finite Element Analysis

Dr. Jad Antonios Jelwan

Aerospace and Mechanical Engineer
Spring 2020
 Holy Spirit University of Kaslik

Finite Element Analysis

Problems to be solved:

Model the Hangar with 2 different beam section (i.e. I beam, and C beam) in ANSYS consisting of the
connecting cross. All parts are made of steel. A distributive load is estimated all along the tower and
a compression force as well due to the weight.

By simple calculations:

1. Determine the following:

 σmax for a perpendicular wind
 Umax for a perpendicular wind
 σmax for a diagonal wind direction
 Umax for a diagonal wind direction

Using the FE methods, investigate the following:

1. The influence of the wind direction on σmax, Umax

2. Conduct h-convergence study at the critical location. Using hand calculations determine
σexact.
3. Investigate the buckling loads with a perpendicular wind direction using 8 modes only.
4. Investigate the buckling loads with a diagonal wind direction using 8 modes only.

Presenting your FE project report

The following are brief guidelines on what should be part of a FE project report. Keep in mind that all
this is very much dependent on the nature of your project and not all points may apply to your
specific report.

1. Introduction

Give a short description to the physical problem you are trying to solve. Describe the real structure,
its purpose, and the reason why you want to carry out an analysis on it.

2. Modelling approach and assumptions

Describe how you will tackle modelling your problem. What are your assumptions and
simplifications? Which loads do you have to include, which can you neglect and why? What will be
your focus point in the subsequent analysis process? What type of analysis do you plan to do and
why.

3. Description of the FE model

Dr. Jad Antonios Jelwan

Aerospace and Mechanical Engineer
Spring 2020
 Holy Spirit University of Kaslik

Finite Element Analysis

Describe the FE model(s) which you have built throughout your project to analyse your problem. This
should be the first time you mention terms such as: "elements", "nodes", "degrees of freedom", etc.
Describe what element type you are using, what material properties, and what real constants? How
many degrees of freedom does your model have? How many elements? What are the boundary
conditions? This is obviously the right spot to place an element plot of your model.

4. Analysis results

Show the results of your analysis. The exact nature of this section depends very much on your
specific problem. Contour plots of stress, strain, or displacements are great for 2D and 3D problems.
Plots of the deformed structure will show how the structure is deflecting. Plots of stress distribution
along a path can be used to visualize stress concentrations. Graphs of individual results vs. element
size can be used to show the convergence of the h-method. Most importantly: USE COMMON
SENSE!!! Present anything that brings your point a cross.

5. Model verification

This section should contain some much-simplified calculations, which will allow you to verify your FE
model. They do not necessarily have to match exactly. If they always would and the structure could
be modelled by such a simple model, what's the use of doing FE analysis?

6. Conclusions
Here you should summarize what you have learned from your FE model. Did the results turn out as
you expected them? If not, why? What recommendations will you be making based on your analysis.
Should the structure be altered so it will not fail? Should the material be changed in order to save
weight or to be produced more cheaply? Can FE analysis be used to determine stress concentration
factors accurately? Don't just blabla… Imagine someone has paid you big money to get some
answers for the problem he/she asked you to analyse and so he/she expects you to summarize your
findings such that they are straight forward and clearly point out what needs to be done.

In general ...
... you should remember that less is more, a picture says more than a thousand words and that
clarity goes over everything. Always ask yourself which parts are vital for the understanding of your
work and therefore have to be included, and what can be left out. Correct spelling and grammar are
a MUST. And please, PLEASE read your report after finishing one more time as the person who
receives it, not the one that wrote it!

Dr. Jad Antonios Jelwan

Aerospace and Mechanical Engineer
Spring 2020