Transient stress analysis of roller coaster vertical shaft   based on the virtual prototype technology

YE Jun, WANG Yongming, SONG Song

(School of Mechanical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243032, China)

Abstract: Aiming at the problem that in the process of the roller coaster operated with highspeed , the key part of the vertical shaft that connected frame and axle housing, the characteristics of its force was instantaneous changeable, the traditional static analysis method couldn't satisfy their needs of the security assessment, a method based on a joint simulation of virtual prototype technology, 3D model was established and ADAMS multi body dynamics analysis was carried out on the roller coaster, the vertical shaft's load variation with time during the process of operation was gotten. The finite element analysis model of the vertical shaft was established based on ANSYS Workbench, the force from ADAMS was exerted on it. The deformation and stress distribution of the vertical shaft were obtained, and according to the finite element analysis, its safety coefficient and fatigue strength coefficient were verified. The results indicate that the safety assessment meet the standard of national. This method will provide an effective protection for the roller coaster's design manufacture and installation and also can help improve the safety during operation in the subsequent.

Key words: roller coaster; vertical shaft; virtual prototype; multibody dynamics analysis; finite element analysis