How do you simulate a door hinge

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

I am trying to simulate a door hinge (and in this case, I care about stresses and deformation on the hinge pin, so I cannot just replace it with a Joint Idealization).  When I specify Surface contact between the pin and the other hinge components in an MES analysis, and apply a remote force intended to rotate one hinge flap, the assembly does not rotate around the hinge pin like I expect.

Is there a different way to approach this?

Thanks.

[AstroJohnPE]

Hi,

Rotation generally involved "large displacement", which might be a combination of rigid body motion and/or displacement, so MES seems to be more appropriate than linear stress. Since you want the stress in the pin, your options are to model the pin and use surface-to-surface contact (as you mentioned), or model the pin with beam elements and use "spokes" to connect the pin to the edges of the knuckles.

Perhaps if you could elaborate on what the analysis is doing, someone could provide some ideas.

P.S. If the hinge is in a "static" position and the only displacement is due to strain (such as a door hanging on its hinges), then the analysis could be performed using linear static stress. You may need to add some constraints or weak springs to provide stability in the direction of rotation about the pin.

[Anonymous]

I would like to simulate one cycle of a flosed door opening up, and determine the resulting stresses and deflections in all the hinge components.  Hence, one part of the hinge is constrained to the wall (i.e. fixed), the other half is experiencin a remote force (this is the influence of a human pushing the door open).

You're right it will be MES and I set it up that way initially, but even with Surface to Surface cntact I barely get any rotation at the pin when the analysis solves.  

[Anonymous]

Why not generalize this and perform a linear stress analysis using forces and or moments. There will be minimal beneficial results with an MES of the door rotating open/closed anyway. You can verifiy your analysis with hand calcs showing shear on the pin and tearing on the hinge.

David Harhay | Product Engineer

Sypris Technologies: Tube Turns Products
2612 Howard Street
Louisville, KY, 40211
502 774 6279 phone | 502 774 6300 fax
david,harhay@sypris.com | www.tubeturns.com