Load Bearing Capacity of Racking Beams and Decking Panels
Determined maximum safe load capacity for racking beams and panels using parametric modeling and FEA, optimizing design efficiency.
Project brief
The objective of this project was to determine the maximum safe load carrying capacity of racking beams and decking panels for a client in the storage racking structures industry. Given the complexity of different cross-sectional profiles, thicknesses, and span variations, the challenge was to efficiently evaluate load capacity for all combinations.
An Calculation sheet was developed to calculate the exact load capacity from simulation data, ensuring precise results for each configuration. This approach provided the client with comprehensive data on load capacities in a format that was both accurate and easy to interpret.
What was at risk
The engineering challenge involved determining the load capacity for various iterations of racking beams and panels, each with unique cross-sectional dimensions and material thicknesses. The primary issue was to efficiently evaluate these numerous combinations without exhaustive individual analyses.
Another critical challenge was translating the simulation output into practical load capacities. This required developing a systematic method to extract and calculate the exact capacity of the racking members, ensuring that the final data was both accurate and directly applicable to real-world scenarios.
Solution offered
Our methodology focused on assessing three primary limits for each beam section and span: vertical deflection, bending stress, and web shear stress. A 1000N distributed load was applied, and the resultant deformation and stress data were processed through a custom Calculation sheet to derive the safe load capacity for each configuration.
Challenges we overcame
Efficiently converting FEA output into load capacities
Development of Excel tool for capacity calculation
Ensuring convergence in simulations across varied geometries
How we executed
- 1
Step 1: Geometric simplification
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Step 2: FEA simulation for each configuration
- 3
Step 3: Application of 1000N distributed load on beams
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Step 4: Extraction of deformation and stress results
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Step 5: Capacity calculation using custom Calculation sheet
Project outcome
Determined load capacity for each beam section and span combination
Enabled accurate capacity predictions with reduced analysis time
Delivered results in graphical format for client comprehension
Ensured compliance with deflection and stress limits
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