Computer simulation of horse shoes made of polymeric composite subjected to external loading

Abstract

A horse shoe is designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear. Like the human shoes, the horse shoes should also meet the ergonomic design, i.e. strong enough to withstand external loadings, comfort, and safe. Conventional horseshoes made of iron, for example, have good mechanical properties, but they are not comfort enough for horses due to its higher weight to size ratio. The internal stresses due to the external loading of the shoes to the soil surface, rocks, asphalt or hard surface will transfer the force of the horse's foot pounding against the horse's foot, so that it can hurt the horse's foot if used for a long time. Therefore, a new research on polymeric foam alternative materials is the main concern to reduce existing problems. The purpose of this study was to conduct a static loading simulation of horse shoes made of polymeric foam reinforced with glass fiber using ANSYS software. In the simulation specimens are modelled with SolidWork. The aims are to determine the stress distribution of to two horse shoes models. It was found that the stresses on z-direction for both commercial and polymeric composite horse shoes material were not significantly difference in values. Stress in z-direction constitutes the bending stresses due to external loadings. The stress contours on both modes are also similar. The stress concentration occurs around the vicinity of the shoe connectors. The maximum normal stresses in z-direction at those locations for steel and polymeric composite are 7.819 MPa and 7.850 MPa, respectively. Comparing those stresses with the static tensile strength of both materials we may conclude that both horseshoe structures are acceptable to be used. However, in terms of the applicability the one made of polymeric composite are more easily to be used.