Shaft Component Generator Dialog Box

Set material, loads, and supports to calculate the shaft.

Access: Ribbon: Design tab Power Transmission panel Shaft and click the Calculation tab.

Material

Specify material or select it from the Material Database. Check the box to open the Material Database where you can select the appropriate material.

The Material Database values insert automatically in the following edit fields after selecting a material, and the edit fields lock. To unlock the fields, clear the box.

Warning: Strength parameters of material are determined empirically and reflect minimum values applicable for a group of materials. These values are close to the values obtained using measurements of materials. It is recommended in cases of final calculations, to use the parameters of material according to the material sheet or specifications of the producer.

Modulus of Elasticity: The Modulus of Elasticity (Young's module) is the ratio of unit stress to unit strain within the proportional limit of a material in tension or compression.
Modulus of Rigidity: Enter the modulus of rigidity of the shaft material.
Density: Enter the density of the shaft material.

Calculation Properties

Use this group box to specify the calculation properties.

Use density: Check the box to include the mass in the calculation. If you clear the Density checkbox, the Density is not included in the calculation. Mass is calculated as if the density is used.
Use shear displacement ratio: Determines if the value is used in the deflection calculation.
Shear displacement ratio: The radial forces acting on the profile cause it both to bend, and to slide. The profile is expected to bend a lot (long or thin profiles). In this case, the sliding effect does not appear, and the shear displacement ratio may be disregarded or switched off. For thick or rigid profiles, this effect is more significant. Value 1.18 is used as a default for cylindrical profiles.
Number of Shaft divisions: Specify the number of the shaft divisions used for calculation.
Mode of reduced stress: Select either HMH or Tresca-Guest mode of reduced stress calculation. The selected mode affects calculated value of reduced stress.
See the Engineer's Handbook for the formula used.

Loads & Supports

Use this area to specify loads and supports. Select Loads or Supports from the drop-down list. Your selection displays the appropriate commands on the toolbar. The Options command is always available.

Click the button to add appropriate force, load, or support. A dialog box displays where you can edit the values.

Selected force or support displays in the list where you can edit or delete it.

The graphical representation of loads and supports is displayed in the Autodesk Inventor window. Work with the preview as with 3D Grips. You can drag the preview to position. Double-click to display the Edit dialog box. Move the mouse cursor above the graphical representations to display a description of a force or support. When you select load or support in the list on the Beam Calculation tab, its graphical representation is selected within the Autodesk Inventor window.

Only one support carries the axial load, and its diagrammatic display is different from others.

Add Force: Opens the Radial Force dialog box where you can set the radial force properties, such as distance or angle.
Add Axial Force: Click to open the Axial Force dialog window where you can set the axial force properties, such as distance or axial force value.
Add Continuous Load: Click to open the Continuous Load dialog box and set the continuous load properties, such as length or angle.
Add Bending Moment: Specifies moments in all directions. M_x (torque), M_y (bending - XZ plane) and M_z (bending - XY plane). Positive moment actuates in the counterclockwise direction.
Click to open the Bending Moment dialog box and set the bending moment properties.
Add Torque: Torque is entered using two forces which are mutually opposite. One of the forces represents the actual torque, the second force must be negative (for example, 150 Nm and -150 Nm). The sum of all torques (max) must equal 0.
Click to open the Torque dialog box and set the torque properties, such as distance or torque value.
Add Common Load: Click to open the Common Load dialog box and set the common load properties, such as force or length.

Add Fixed Support: Click to open the Supports dialog box and set the fixed support properties.
Add Free Support: Click to open the Supports dialog box and set the free support properties.
Options: Click to open the Options dialog box for 3D and 2D graphical preview.

2D Preview

2D preview is displayed in the lower part of the Calculation tab, by default. To hide the 2D Preview, select the Always Hide option within the 2D Preview box of the Options dialog box, and click OK.

When you select a load or support, appropriate load or support is also selected in the tree control in the Calculation tab, and in the Autodesk Inventor window.

Green and blue position markers are displayed in the 2D preview as in a preview in the Autodesk Inventor window. For each section, three position markers are displayed, one at each end of a section, and one position marker in the middle of each section. Blue position marker means that load or support is positioned to such position marker.

Tips:

Double-click the load or support to display an edit dialog box.
Hold CTRL + double-click to open dialog box to edit force or support dimension.
Hold SHIFT + double-click force to open edit dialog box for force size.
Drag to move force or support,
Hover mouse over the tree item to display a tooltip with the tree item (force/support) information (size, for example).

Results

To display the Results area on the right side of the Design, Calculation, and Graphs tabs, click the chevron.

The results area displays calculated values. For example, the size of resistance in supports, deflection, and rotation in the place of the supports. Loads, maximum bending, and torsion stress, angel of twist, and mass of the shaft. Values are calculated when Calculate is pressed.

The following items are displayed in the Results pane:

Note: For more information on the calculated parameters, see Engineer's Handbook.

The Load and Support lists include some of the important values at the position of every load and support. For a continuous load, the values are listed both for the beginning and for the end of the load.

Results
- Length (L)
- Mass (Mass)
- Maximal Bending Stress (σ_{_max})
- Maximal Shear Stress (τ_{_s})
- Maximal Torsional Stress (τ)
- Maximal Tension Stress (σ_T)
- Maximal Deflection (f_{_max})
- Angle of Twist (ϕ)
Load
- Deflection in Y Axis (f_y)
- Deflection in Y Axis (f_x)
Support
- Support Force in X axis (F_{_X})
- Support Force in Y axis (F_{_Y})
- Support Force in Z axis (F_{_Z})
- Yielding in Y axis (Y_{_{_Y}})
- Deflection in X axis (f_X)
- Deflection in Y axis (f_Y)

Summary of Messages

Displays the reports about calculation. To open the Summary of Messages area at the bottom of the Calculation and Design tabs click the chevron below the tabs.

Graphical Preview

A graphical preview of the loads and supports is displayed in Autodesk Inventor. Drag the preview of load and support to place it to the appropriate position.

Double-click the graphical representation of load and support to display a dialog box where you can change the appropriate properties.

Green and blue position markers are displayed in the preview. For each section, three position markers are displayed, one at each end of a section, and one position marker in the middle of each section. Blue position marker means that load or support is positioned to such position marker. Use Alt + drag to move a force or support and assign it to another position marker.