2015

Avikainen, Timo

The objectives of this Simpro subproject work was to create an optimization model by applying an industrial real case. The KONE Oy used elevator guide rail system was used as an example to the demonstration purposes. KONE produced the original guide rail model including also the external frame, connection brackets and the roller wheels. The model development in VTT was divided to the two parts. The guide rail based on the one dimensional beam element modelling enable lighter models which gives benefit in model modifications and computational times, Jani Wennerkoski continued the work with the beam models. Applying the solid element mesh to the guide rails enable more detailed modelling but on the contrary is heavier in terms of the computing times and model modifications. The solid mesh approach is reported in this study. In practise the guide rails were created again since the cross section was defined parametric. The existing sketch can be modified and updated. The length of the guide rails were made parametric when extruding them. The brackets used here are as they came from KONE and the horizontal pipes were cut from the external frame. The locations of the each brackets were made parametric by applying a python code which moves them. In a same way also the height of the elevator was made parametric and the exact location of the roller wheels. The elevator can be driven throught the existing guide rail in steps but without the dynamics and time which can be added later. The buckling of the guide rail is also calculated in the model. Both the Design of Experiment (DOE) and optimizations results of the solid model case are described and discussed in this report. There exist lack of the perfect optimizations results available. In order to achieve the trustable and comprehensive results more work is needed to update and modify the Abaqus CAE model for the optimization.