Mechanika Ltd recently carried out a full substantiation analysis of a prototype bell crank mechanism on a small aircraft engine.
The scope of the analysis was as follows:
- Identification of the weakest structural link using mechanics and stress hand calculations. This was executed to enable a fast communication of the load path through the mechanism prior to detailed FEA and to advise on the levels of analysis required – in this case non-linear material plasticity and detailed fatigue assessment.
- Steady-state thermal analysis.
- Transient thermal analysis to determine if any of the dissimilar materials would clash due to thermal gradients, due to dissimilar materials with differing thermal mass.
- Fatigue assessment.
- Non-linear material plastic failure due to burst loads.
