AD Hopper

 
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Novel Use of Hydrostatic Pressure:
Archbreaking Diamondback Hopper®

Special features:
Given a ribbed, faceted, bulk, commodity container, calculate the stresses when filled and pressurized.

3D CAD model setup with finite element analysis elastic material model (linear stress). Use finite element bricks for the ribs, finite element shells for the container skin and the application of pressures, and gravity body loads (hydrostatic pressure, whcih was used in an inverted mode since the pressure on the side walls was greater at the top than the bottom, get it?).

Output:
Nodal strains, stresses, and displacements.

Comments:
This problem illustrates the simultaneous use of gravity, static internal pressure, and quasi-, or hydrostatic-like pressure loading to apply a pressure gradient to the internal walls of the container. The first graphic is an isometric view of a "quarter symmetry" CAD solid model of the container. The 2nd graphic shows a stress output map. In both cases the gravity vector is vertical and pointing up. The hydrostatic pressure is higher at the bottom of the views than at the top. This is a gravity feed hopper that is designed not to clog. So, what you see is actually the hopper in an inverted orientation for the FEA set up and solve. In reality, the hopper orientation is inverted as to what is shown. In FEA, it's just a matter of having the correct reference frame set up, which sometimes does not appear "correct."