A new type of district heating
Optimal
mechanical design of plastic-jacket pipelines for district heating networks
SimiKo:
Simulation of mikrosystem components
Lead
project ADAPTRONIK: Adaptive composite structures for lightweight construction
with integrated piezoelectric fibres and foils
Analysis of the local static behaviour of critical pipe components
This work was a co-operative project, carried out in conjunction with:
- Arbeitsgemeinschaft Fernwärme e.V. Frankfurt/Main (AGFW),
- Forschungsinstitut für Tief- und Rohrleitungsbau Weimar (FITR),
- Stadtwerke Weimar
These pipe components (of plastic-jacket design) are utilized in district heating networks. The results of this research were then used in the "Optimal mechanical design of plastic jacket pipelines for district heating networks" project, whereby the global static behaviour was analysed with finite beam elements.
Application of finite 2-D and 3-D beam elements for the analysis of global static behaviour
Generally | Examples | Prospective application fields
This work is based on the results of the project "A new type of district heating" (analysis of the local static behaviour of critical pipe components). For this work, another approach was chosen: from a structural mechanics viewpoint, the plastic-jacket pipe is a highly complex system, composed of various materials.
Analysing the system is inherently complicated, due to the influence of the soil around the pipe. The soil foundation adds its own difficulties: the soil/pipe interaction depends on the material properties of the pipe and the in-situ location (for example the type of soil, the filling material in the ditch, thickening of the filling material, the laying technique).
For practical purposes it is useful to firstly simulate, with finite beam elements, the global static behaviour of the pipe network, with respect to many different input parameters. To this end, FEMCOS is developing a PC simulation tool. With the help of this tool it is feasible to model interactive district heating networks (and components respectively) as a structural beam system (2-D or 3-D), and to simulate the global static behaviour of the pipe structure under various constraints.
The research project has been finished. For the industrial utilisation of the software we will cooperate with the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Fernwärme e.V., Frankfurt/Main (AGFW) and a number of public utilities companies. The enviromental friendly district heating, there is no doubt, will be extended if the cost of layout and installation can be reduced. The software we can provide might be a step in the right direction.
We are looking for European
partners for mutual work in application and further development of the code.
If you are interested in further information about the project and/or a cooperation,
we would be pleased to get a message from you (contact)!
Development and use of material database for the simulation of mikrosystem components - A co-operative project:
The increasing use of various material combinations in microsystem
technology demands very high quality FE models. However, the necessary material
data to describe the linear and non-linear material behaviour are often unavailable.
As a result of increased efficiency in the FE simulation process, by integration
of a material database, FEMCOS is developing the so-called
"Product Model Simulation". It contains easy-to-use
software tools for transferring material data from the SimiKo
material database directly to the simulation. For this purpose,
the neutral FE material data interface FEMDAS is used.
This project is being led by
the University of Ulm, Germany, where further
information on SimiKo is available.
Adaptive composite structures for lightweight construction - structures conforming with integrated piezoelectric fibres and foils
The aim of ADAPTRONIK is the development of
self-adapting systems subject to given constraints. One application is in the
damping of mechanical vibration (for example in the automobile or aerospace
industries).
Within the ADAPTRONIK project, FEMCOS is making
an important contribution to the field of structural modeling.
In co-operation
with the Institute of Mechanics of the University Magdeburg,
we are developing a project-specific catalogue of piezo-thermo-mechanical
multi-field elements, for the modeling of thin-walled structural components
with actuary and sensory function. With the implementation
of the catalogue in COSAR, these elements are available (with
the substructuring technique) for static and dynamic
analysis (eigenvalue analysis, time integration, modal methods). The
fields of application of these elements are thus more extensive than is possible
with the current element types (Piezomechanics
analysis).
Furthermore, our experience in the field of
simulation-oriented databases is brought into the project,
to save the experimental material data (of the project), and to make this data
available for modeling.
Here you find more information about the Lead project ADAPTRONIK.