Stress analysis of pin-loaded woven-glass fiber reinforced epoxy laminate conveying chain components

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of various loading conditions on the stress of a pin-loaded woven-glass fiber reinforced epoxy laminate conveying chain component. A numerical and experimental study was carried out to determine the stress distribution of composite conveying chain components used to convey loads. For the experimental study, an apparatus was developed to simulate chain components in real motion. Two different working conditions of the chain component were investigated. The first condition represents the movement of the chain components without loading. In the second condition, the chain component touches and moves the load. The commercial finite element package ANSYS was used to perform the numerical analysis using a three dimensional eight-noded layered structural solid elements. Chain tensile forces were loaded through pins and chosen as 250, 500, 750, 1000 and 1250 N for the two conditions of chain components. Experimental and numerical studies were compared and discussed for two conditions and five different tensile forces. A good agreement between experimental results and numerical predictions is obtained.