Bucket Elevator

Martin82

Hi, I have two drums that act as an axis and move a belt, which raises some buckets, how can I make this animation in inspire, or edem? I leave a photo thanks

GTT Adam

Hi @Martin82,

This type of simulation will best be handled using MotionView, where the User can easily capture this model using several different approaches:

1. Depending on the eventual application, a simplified version of the model can be designed in which the bucket is constrained to the pulleys using a point to curve (PTC) constraint. The bucket would then follow a rigid path around the pulleys and transfer load into the supports. The 'load' in the bucket can be approximated using a function that can fluctuate with either time or distance and you can avoid needing to model the bulk material as well. As a rigid version of this system, there would be no flexibility in the belt so if the point of the model is to study the performance of the belt, this would not be suitable. However, if it is to simulate the performance of the pulleys, then it may be all you need.
2. The more detailed approach would be to create a discretized belt using the Belt/Pulley Tool: This way, the bucket can be constrained to the belt and the flexibility of the pulley can be considered. The bucket can be simply constrained to a chunk of the belt using a fixed joint. The system can then be cosimulated with EDEM to incorporate bulk material or still simulated using a load function.
3. The most detailed approach would be to create a non-linear finite element (NLFE) belt using the Belt/Pulley Tool. The flexibility and stresses in the belt can be simulated to see if it can handle the load function or EDEM cosimulated loads into the bucket.

In Inspire, it is still possible to model a version of this system, but it would require a significant amount of planning as there is no Belt/Pulley Tool in Inspire. First, you would have to create the discretized belt yourself and model 'hinges' at every segment so the interface can detect the joints. Depending on the scale of this model, you may need to generate 100's or 1000's of these bodies manually. You would then need to create a series of contacts between the belt pieces and the pulleys with the high amount of friction.

Hope this helps!

Adam Reid