Strength Analysis of Pin Connections Using Computer Aided Systems

Abstract

emphasis is given to accurate prediction of their properties, especially strength. There are several options for predicting pin connections, such as analytical calculations, Special-Purpose Programs (SPPs), or Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Nowadays companies do not usually have all these prediction methods available. The main reason is price and the maintenance of the software. In particular, smaller companies are usually equipped with SPPs [MITCalc 2003-2013, KISSsoft AG 1998-2014, BSPOJ 1992 based on spreadsheets or databases, because FEA is less affordable and is a time consuming process. Consequently, they have no other choice but to accept the information and values obtained from these SPPs, even without understanding their principles. This scientific work describes the comparison of the prediction methods of the pin connections so that the results should be usable for designers in the evaluation of similar connections. One section of this paper is devoted to comparing the programs with respect to material parameters, types of loading, evaluation criterions and results. A detailed comparison was undertaken for a specific connection using securing pins between two steel boards. This work is a continuation of the scientific work [Lasova 2015], where the capabilities of FE method and SPPs in evaluation of gears were compared.