Analysis of the Mechanical Behavior of Bellows for Electromagnetic Control Valve

Abstract

The behavior of a bellows for an electromagnetic control valve was investigated. The bellows consists of an outer metal bellows, inner spring, and metal caps. The bellows needs to have sensitive and precise motion against external loads and pressure loads in order to control the position of the valve accurately. The spring constant of the inner spring and load-displacement curve of the bellows set were measured using a test machine. The inner spring showed a linear relation between load and displacement. The bellows set showed small stiffness at small displacement, and then the stiffness slightly increased upon subsequent displacement. Based on the measured data, finite element analysis was performed. Axisymmetric conditions were applied, and shell elements were used. The effective material properties of the outer bellows material were extracted. Additional analysis was performed, and the behavior of the bellows was analyzed using the finite element model.