Structural Analysis of Continuous Ship Unloader

Continuous ship unloader (CSU) is used for uninterrupted transportation of material. Small scales to huge CSU structures are being used in process industries, power plants and harbors, depending upon transportation material stream rate. This study focused on design optimization after three-dimensional modeling in CATIA and finite element structural analysis of big CSU structure in ANSYS Workbench. For detailed analysis study, the big structure was divided in two portions. One is the upper section, which can be rotated on center post and it also facilitates translatory motion of sea leg. This section includes mast top, front tension bars, rare tension bar, mast frame and mast front. While the lower section rests on the earth and supports the upper part and also helps in transportation through conveyer belt. This section includes, center post, portal grinder, sea side and land side supports. The whole structure deals with heavy loads and high multi axial moments. Hence the actual structure was compared with optimized design and its was concluded that, optimized design have less stresses and deflections under same applied conditions in comparison of actual model.