Static analysis of an office desk construction

Abstract

NOVOTNÝ, M., NEUGEBAUER, R., ŠIMEK, M.: Static analysis of an offi ce desk construction. Acta univ. agric. et silvic. Mendel. Brun., 2011, LIX, No. 6, pp. 247-254 The objective of the paper is a static analysis of a desk construction and the determination of its probable mechanical behaviour using Finite Element Method. The construction was modelled and numerically analysed in Autocad Inventor 2011 and the stability of the entire desk was calculated with the size and placement of the loading force based on the standards and cited literature. Possible locations and directions of the deformation were analysed and a solution for its prevention was proposed and the stability of the desk as well as the extreme position of the stand were calculated. The verifi cation of the obtained results in an accredited furniture testing lab is planned using a prototype of the offi ce desk.an offi ce desk, construction, steel, numerical simulation, stability A construction of an offi ce desk stand made of steel plate, which enters the production as a large-scale material, has several advantages over commonly used semi-fi nished products. Steel profi les and tubes used in the furniture industry are usually over-dimensioned for the purposes of furniture production as they are primarily designed for engineering or civil engineering. On the other hand, production of castings is usually very expensive and connected with the production of large batches. However, the use of up-to-date CNC processing methods for metals provides furniture producers with a lot of freedom to create their own construction with original design and the optimum use of material properties. In this way, a required combination of attractive design, suitable mechanical properties (construction rigidity, strength, stability, etc.) and lower costs can be obtained when producing small or medium volume of products.The analysed desk construction ( Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) was produced as a prototype using CNC laser cutting, precise CNC press braking (metal parts -stand) and typical furniture production CNC processing (wooden composite materials -desk top).The aim of the study was to establish the probable mechanical behaviour of the offi ce desk, especially the stand, in consequence of the defi ned static loading based on the standards dealing with the testing methods for stability and mechanical resistance of offi ce desk constructions. The study focuses on the analysis of the extreme response (maximum tension) points and the probable breakage points by means of static numerical analysis. These points will be evaluated and based on that we will propose a solution for the achievement of the optimum results. The study further deals with the numerical establishment of the offi ce desk stability and as a consequence provides other possible shape modifi cations.Similar issues related to analyses of furniture construction and numerical simulation of specifi c types of constructions were in the past dealt with by e.g.

Numerical strength optimization of structural design made of date palm fronds leaves wood particleboard

“…While the numerical analysis gives an acceptable general strength estimation for the sofa frame. Novotný, M. et al, [29] examined the mechanical performance of an office desk under static loading in different positions looking for the stability and mechanical resistance attitude. The examination is based on a 3D modelling numerical analysis employing CAD software Autodesk Inventor 2011 to evaluate the maximum and minimum strength points and the stability of the constructed structural model so that to find out the best-modified shape.…”

Determination of Displacement in a Loaded Wooden Chair by Using Digital Image Correlation

“…However, they are supported by research rather signifi cantly. From a large number of studies, we would like to mention the research on behaviour of constructions of upholstered furniture (Smardzewski and Prekrat, 2009) (Koňas, 2008), desk (Novotný et al, 2011), as well as the research on behaviour of wood product joints (Mihailescu, 2003;Černok et al, 2004;Prekrat and Smardzewski, 2010;Serrano and Enquist, 2010). The issue of strength design of furniture and various research methods is rather comprehensively described by Eckelman (2003), Smardzewski (2004) and Joščák (1999).…”