Software Systems Application for Shafts Strength Analysis in Mechanical Engineering

Abstract The application of software systems based on CAD/CAE systems in mechanical constructions during the development of complex engineering systems, in particular in the analysis of shaft strength and evaluation of their characteristics is reviewed in this article. A method for calculation and analysis of shafts using software systems is described and its difference from the classic methods of calculation is presented. As an example the calculation of the input shaft of bevel straight-toothed gear included in a ball mill drive using software was made. As the result of shaft analysis its static strength, fatigue strength, and flexural rigidity in the form of numerical values were calculated and the graphs of distribution of equivalent stress, changes in movement along the length of the shaft and the moment diagrams of shaft bending were obtained. As the experience shows the analysis of shafts using software systems allows avoiding errors in calculations and provides a possibility to optimize the shaft design. The user-friendly and understandable graphical interface, powerful software systems functionality, and the visibility of the output data allow using them in calculations and engineering data analysis in various engineering industries.