Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Macmese01 PDF
Macmese01 PDF
Investigation of Performance of Laminated Bamboo Chair through
Virtual Testing
VANCHAI LAEMLAKSAKUL
Industrial Engineering Technology Department
King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok
1518 Pibulsongkram Rd. Bangsue, Bangkok 10800
THAILAND
Abstract: The strength and durability of chair is one of the most important requirements for furniture design.
A numerical method for predicting the strength and the durability has been successfully developed and used to
examine the quality control and structure design of a chair. This particular study assessed the strength under
static and dynamic loading test analysis of a laminated bamboo chair. The numerical model of ISO 7173
(Furniture – Chairs and stools – Determination of strength and durability) was employed to establish a
procedure to perform virtual testing on the laminated one in order to reduce loss from structure failure, cost of
sample testing and time. The simulations involve a nonlinear dynamic finite element (FE) software. The
virtual testing showed the improvement of design of laminated bamboo chair.
KeyWords: Simulation, Finite element method, Laminated bamboo chair, Strength, Durability.
1 Introduction quick design calculations to estimate structural sizes
Today, the world population is increasing rapidly. without the need of assistance from expensive
Furniture demand has developed parallel to this structural simulation software. Strength and
situation. Gradually, decreasing of the forest durability design of chair would satisfy furniture
resources requires more efficient use of wood performance test standards such as design loads.
materials in furniture production and better proofing Finite element methods (FEM) have been
of the furniture to ensure its durability. Within this commonly utilized in structural analysis of the
scope, a number of appropriate performance test furniture systems. A theoretical study using
methods have been developed for furniture, advanced finite element analysis of one element per
introducing the new concept of furniture engineering member was reported by Chan to assess the load
[1]. carrying capacities of bamboo scaffoldings [3].
The advancement in computer technologies has Gustafsson structurally analyzed a sample chair by
created a tremendous impact on several industries, utilizing the FEM [4] and determined stresses at
be it automotive, military and aerospace industries various nodes with the finite element method by
to electrical and electronic and household industries. modeling the chair [5]. FEM gives reasonable
CAE (Computer Aided Engineering) is one of the estimates of the overall strength performances of the
computer technologies utilized by many OEMs sofa frames [6].
(Original Equipment Manufacturer) during the Bamboo is a natural constructional material and
design and development of products [2]. CAE is there are over 1500 different botanical species in the
used to perform virtual analyses including structure, world. Bamboo grows very fast and it usually takes
impact, drop test, thermal and computational fluid 3–8 years to harvest [7], depending on the species
dynamic. Strength design of furniture can be and the plantation. The mechanical properties of
accomplished by utilizing solid modeling and bamboo are believed to be at least similar, if not
structural analysis software. All parts of the product superior, to those of structural timber. There is a
can be modeled parametrically and any required growing global interest in developing bamboo as a
changes can readily be optimized via advantages substitute of structural timber in furniture
that are provided by the solid modeling. Likewise, production. However, a major constraint to the
strength calculations of the designed product could development of structural bamboo as a modern
be made by means of the computer aided structural furniture material is the lack of design standards.
analysis software. A simplified analysis method is The purpose of this research is to assess the
desirable for furniture engineers to perform daily strength of a chair made from laminated bamboo,
namely Dendrocalamus asper Backer (or Pai Tong seff = K (e0 + ep) n (1)
in Thai) under static and dynamic loading. In this
study, CAE is performed to investigate the Table 1. Mechanical Properties of Bamboo
characteristics of laminated bamboo chairs
Properties Value
illustrated in Figure 1.
Density 800 kg/m 3
Young’s Modulus 13.68 GPa
Yield Strength 100 MPa
2 Materials and Method Poisson Ratio 0.35
The models are set up using finite element software. Strength Coefficient 438 MPa
Firstly, triangular shell elements are used to mesh
the surfaces of a laminated bamboo chair. Then, 4 2.2 Static Loading Simulation
node tetrahedron elements are generated based on The static loading was conducted by using the
the shell elements [8]. Due to the symmetry, only implicit solver. The model setup is illustrated in
half of the chair geometry is considered. Both Figures 23. The pad is placed at the center of each
Design #1 and #2 consist of 9664 and 8371 chair. The clearance between the pad and the chair is
tetrahedron (tetra) elements, respectively. The set as 0.5 mm. The applied pad force for static is
simulations are performed by using a nonlinear 2000 N as described in ISO 7173 for Test Level #5
dynamic finite element analysis (FEA) software [10]. Due to the symmetry, the applied pad force
which is equipped with both implicit and explicit was set to 1000 N. The loading took place at every
solvers [9]. The simulations are performed with the 0.25 seconds.
use of a computer with 3.0 GHz processor and 1.3
GHz memory. 2.3 Dynamic Loading Simulation
The dynamic loading was conducted by using the
2.1 Bamboo Mechanical Properties explicit solver. The model setup for dynamic
An elastoplastic material with an arbitrary stress loading is similar to the setup described in static
versus strain curve was chosen to model behavior of loading. The applied pad force for dynamic test is
bamboo in each simulation. The mechanical 950 N as described in ISO 7173. Due to the
properties of bamboo are listed in Table 1. The symmetry, applied pad force was then set at 475 N
Krupskowsky law listed in Equation 1 is adopted to for one cycle under a loading condition. The
model the hardening behavior of bamboo during a dynamic event took place at every 0.5 seconds.
tensile test. The bonding between laminated layers is
assumed to be perfect.
Design #1 Design #2
Fig. 1. Design Models of Laminated Bamboo Chair
Laminated
Bamboo
Chair
Pad
Symmetry Plane
Design #1 Design #2
Fig. 2. Isometric view of FEA model
Design #1 Design #2
Fig. 3. Top view of FEA model
3 Results and Discussion
Table 2. Data recorded after removal of pad load
3.1 Static Simulation Design
Max. Z Deflection Max. von Mises Stress
The static simulation lasted for approximately 10 (mm) (MPa)
minutes. The results obtained from this simulation 1 0.0355 0.516
are illustrated in Figures 45. As shown in Figure 4, 2 0.0127 0.233
the location of maximum von Mises stress is circled.
In Design #1, the stress concentrated near the joint 3.2 Dynamic Simulation
after the pad load is removed while Design #2 The cyclic dynamic loading reveals higher stress
include stress concentrated near the center of seat. concentration near joints at the back of Design #1
Design #1 is subjected to higher stress than Design laminated bamboo chair, as illustrated in Figure 6.
#2. In the case of Design #2, stress concentration occurs
The distribution of Zdisplacement illustrated in near the joints at the front of laminated bamboo
Figure 5 indicates Design #1 underwent higher chair. The simulations also indicate Design #2
deflection. However, the amount of deflection is laminated bamboo chair undergoes higher stresses
fairly small. The predicted maximum Zdeflection during cyclic dynamic loading. This is probably due
and von Mises stress from each test are listed in to flexible design compared to more rigid Design #1.
Table 2. The maximum von Mises stress recorded is listed in
Table 3.
Design #1 Design #2
Design #1 Design #2
Fig. 5. Distribution of Displacement in Zdirection (in mm).
Design #1 Design #2
Design #1 Design #2
Design #1 Design #2
Fig. 8. Laminated Bamboo Chairs
4 Conclusion Acknowledgement:
In this research, The CAE technology is employed This research was a part of a research project titled
to investigate the performance and durability of two “Design of Laminated Bamboo Furniture using
different laminated bamboo chair designs. The Ergonomics Method” supported by the King
virtual tests including static and dynamic loading Mongkut’s University of Technology North
cases are conducted using finite element software Bangkok, Thailand.
with explicit and implicit capabilities. The static
loading case is conducted using the implicit
algorithm, while dynamic loading cases are References:
performed using explicit algorithm. The virtual test [1] Eckelman C. A., Erdil Y. Z., Furniture
procedure is complied with the International engineering and quality of life, International
Standard ISO 7173 for determination of strength and Furniture Congress, Istanbul, 1999, pp. 306
durability of furniture. 332.
In static loading, Design #1 undergoes maximum [2] Lee K. W., Principles of CAD/CAM/CAE
Zdeflection of 0.0355 mm at the center of seat systems, AddisonWesley, 1999.
area. The maximum von Mises Stress is recorded as [3] Chan S. L., Wong K. W., So Y. S., Poon S. W.,
0.516 MPa near the corner of rear legs of laminated Empirical design and structural performance of
bamboo chair. Though amount of recorded stress is bamboo scaffolding, Proceedings of the
below yield stress, design change is recommended symposium on bamboo and metal scaffoldings,
to remove stress concentration at these regions to 1998, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.
improve strength of chair. In Design #2, the [4] Gustafsson S. I., Furniture design by use of the
maximum Zdeflection and von Mises Stress are finite element method, Holz als Rohund
0.0127 mm and 0.233 MPa, respectively. Both Werkstoff, 53(4), 1995, pp. 257260.
maximum Zdeflection and von Mises stress takes [5] Gustafsson S. I., Finite element modeling
place at the center of seat area. Comparison of static versus reality for birch chairs, Holz als Rohund
loading simulation between Design #1 and #2 Werkstoff, 54(5), 1996, pp. 355359.
reveals the latter performs much better by allowing [6] Ali K., Determination of the strength of various
lower stress concentration and deflection. sofa frames with finite element analysis,
The dynamic cyclic loading simulation indicates Journal of Science, 19(4), 2006, pp. 191–203.
the maximum Zdeflection and von Mises Stress for [7] Dransfield S., Widjaja E. A., Plant resources of
Design #1 are 0.0047 mm and 0.094 MPa, SouthEast Asia 7: Bamboos, Backhuys
respectively. The stress concentration takes place Publishers, Netherlands, 1995.
near the joints between rear legs and seat area of [8] Belytschko T. B., Hughes T. J.R., Computation
chair, while maximum Zdeflection occurs near the methods for transient analysis, Volume 1 in
front edge of seat area. For Design #2, the maximum Computational Methods in Mechanics, Elsevier
Zdeflection and von Mises Stress are 0.0134 mm Science, 1983.
and 0.460 MPa, respectively. Design #2 exhibits [9] Crisfield M. A., Nonlinear finite element
larger deflection near the arm rest and back support analysis of solids and structures, John Wiley
of chair due to its flexible design. Furthermore, and Sons, 1997.
design #2 exhibits higher stress concentration near [10] International Organization for Standardization,
the joints between front legs and seat area of chair ISO 7173: Furniture – Chair and Stools –
when subjected to cyclic loading. Determination of Strength and Durability,
The results obtained from virtual testing not only 1989.
help to provide guidelines for designing better
laminated bamboo chairs, but also drastically reduce
the number of prototype built for experimental
testing. To the end, tremendous cost saving can be
achieved.