FINITE ELEMENT STUDY TO COMPARE THE PERFORMANCE OF COMPOSITE AND STEEL ANGLE BARS KAYLA KRUPER 09/23/2015 INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND • Angle bar is used extensively as a building material to route cable from one point to another • Goal of project is to compare the effects that the material has on the strength performance of angle bars PROBLEM DESCRIPTION • Model an angle bar in Abaqus/CAE • Modify models with different physical properties such as material, mass and size • Compare the analytical results of the performance of the angle bar to experimental data APPROACH/METHODOLOGY • Create three-dimensional model of a angle bar including modeling composite material using Abaqus/CAE • Run and repeat analysis with both coarser and finer meshes to determine the adequacy of the mesh • Re-run analysis using different angle bar physical properties EXPECTED OUTCOMES • Become proficient in the use of FEA, specifically in Abaqus/CAE • Gain a better understanding of composite materials and strength performance MILESTONE/DEADLINE LIST • Milestones • Research experimental data on composite and steel performances • Research material properties for composite and steel angle bars • Create FEM of an angle bar • Run FEM to determine effect of different variables • Deadlines • • • • • • Tentative Project Proposal Draft Project Proposal First Progress Report Second Progress Report Preliminary Final Report Final Report September 18, 2015 September 23, 2015 October 19, 2015 November 16, 2015 November 30, 2015 December 7, 2015