MULTIOBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION OF FLEXURE BEARING

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Flexure bearing is a new concept and used for precision applications such as Programmable focusing mechanism (PFM), linear compressor etc. These bearings are compact and inexpensive. A flexure bearing is designed for specific applications. This design can usually be done with the advanced design tool like FEA. With the advent of computers FEA has become the most suitable tool for the engineering analysis where the conventional approach is not suitable, geometric complexity are involved etc. This paper deals with the study of flexure bearings in linear compressor and makes FEA analysis on it to calculate equivalent stress and tries to optimize it. Using software’s like CATIA and PROE, modeling of flexure bearing is done. Also make FEM analysis on it by using Ansys software. Gaunekar have made design calculation for flexure bearing to make appropriate model. This bearing contains three spiral slots having 120° apart and 12 peripheral holes are used to clamp the disc rigidly onto a support structure. One central hole made for movement of shaft Bearings are used to allow the relative motion between the two surfaces. A piston is to slide about the cylinder and shaft has to rotate about its casing. Both requires the relative motion for least frictional losses to be happened. A flexure bearing is a spring which allows relative motion by bending a load element. Flexure bearings have the advantage over most other bearings that they are simple and thus inexpensive. They are also often compact, lightweight, have very low friction, and are easier to repair without specialized equipment. This paper presents design, analysis and manufacturing of flexure bearing for a linear compressor which increases the efficiency of system by achieving maximum stiffness, less stresses and more fatigue life. For this, modelling is done in NX&CATIA and analysis in ANSYS with physical validation of final results by manufacturing actual prototype.

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