DETERMINATION OF STRESS CONCENTRATION FACTORS OF A STEAM TURBINE ROTOR USING FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

Abstract

Stress Concentration Factors are significant in machine design as it gives rise to localized stress when any change in the design of surface or abrupt change in the cross section occurs. Almost all machine components and structural members contain some form of geometrical or microstructural discontinuities. These discontinuities are very dangerous and lead to failure. So, it is very much essential to analyze the stress concentration factors for critical applications like Turbine Rotors. In this paper Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with extremely fine mesh in the vicinity of the blades of Steam Turbine Rotor is applied to determine stress concentration factors.Keywords: Stress Concentration Factors; FiniteElement Analysis; ANSYS.DOI: 10.3329/jme.v40i2.5355Journal of Mechanical Engineering, Vol. ME 40, No. 2, December 2009 137-141