Finite Element Analysis of Some Anchor Windlass

Based on ABAQUS

Zhuang Hong1, Li Qiong2, Zhang Jian1, and Tang Wen-xian1

1
School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology,
Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212003, China
2
Zhenjiang Just Marine Equip. Co., Ltd, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
zhuanghong_work@163.com, zifeimu2006@163.com,
zhjian127@163.com, tangwenxian@163.com

Abstract. The reliability of anchor windlass is strongly related to weigh anchor,

cast anchor, moor and bollard of ships. In this paper, finite element model of
some anchor windlass was presented by using HyperMesh software, which was
solved by ABAQUS/Standard. And stress distributions were given under
supporting load case. The results showed that the stresses of the anchor windlass
were lower than the allowable stress, and finite element analysis of the anchor
windlass could provide theoretical guidance for anchor windlass design.

Keywords: Anchor windlass, Supporting load, FEA, ABAQUS.

1 Introduction
As an important part of the ship deck machinery, anchor windlass is used for anchor
windlass, anchor, and mooring. The reliability of the anchor windlass directly related to
weigh anchor, cast anchor, moor and bollard of ships. During the anchor windlass
designing process, many load cases, such as gravity, winding drum load, vice roll
tension load, working load and supporting load, should be included. However,
supporting load is the biggest among them, which plays a very important role during
the windlass working process.
With the rapid development of the numerical theory and computer technology, finite
element method has been widely used in machine design and analysis of the windlass.
The pipe laying drum shaft anchor was studied by Zhou Zhihong, transition radius and
the distance from the step keyway root and grooves on the level of intensity was
analyzed. But the drum shaft was just imposed equivalent and the model was too
simplified [1]. Fang Zhenxing analyzed windlass base and the strength of the local
structure of the hull using ANSYS software. However, other parts of the windlass were
not considered [2]. The stress and displacement of some windlass were studied by
Wang Hong. And the mechanical performances of the reinforced and un-reinforced
deck hull were compared finally. But the real interactions between the components
were ignored because of using structural elements [3]. Hu Fucai et al. analyzed strength
and stiffness of drum and base of the windlass, the transient temperature field of the
brake system, and the stress and failure mechanism of the head screws. Besides, related
experiments were present to validate the analyzing results. And they pointed that the

Y. Zhang (Ed.): Future Communication, Computing, Control and Management, LNEE 141, pp. 343–347.
springerlink.com © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012
344 H. Zhuang et al.

traditional design method was very conservative [4-6]. Recently, the chain wheel gear
box was investigated by FEA, which was compared with stress experiment. And the
thickness of the gear box cover, reinforcement plates and other support plate was
reduced reasonably [7]. However, research about mechanical performance of the
windlass under supporting load condition was rarely found.
Therefore, taking some windlass as example, three-dimensional model of the
windlass was proposed firstly by commercial software Pro/E. Then the FE model was
built by HyperMesh software and translated into input file, which was solved by
ABAQUS/Standard. Finally, mechanical performance was analyzed under supporting
load condition.

2 Structure and Principle Analysis for Windlass

The length, width, and height of the anchor windlass are 8.6m, 1.2m and 1.6m,
respectively. As shown in the Fig.1, the windlass mainly includes hydraulic motor (1),
main spindle (2), transmission gears(3), chain wheel (4), winding drums (5,6), vice
drum (7), windlass base (8), bracket (9,12,15,18), steel box (10,11,13,14,16,17) and
other components (such as the bracket cover, bolts, etc). The clutch and the main
spindle are made of 45-steel shaft, brake material is made of 16-Mn, the transmission
gears and gear shafts are made of 40Cr, the steel box, wind drums, and the brackets are
made of Q235. The diameter of the chain wheel is 44mm, and the supporting load is
691 KN.

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of the windlass

The working principle of anchor windlass is shown in Fig.1. The main spindle was
driven by hydraulic motor. Then the motion was translated into other components by the
corresponding clutch. In this way, weigh anchor, controlling cable could be carried out.

3 FE Model of the Windlass

There-dimensional CAD model was built based on two-dimensional drawings provided
by cooperators (Fig.2), firstly. Small features, such as small chamfer, fillet and weld
seam, were ignored in the model, so did the effects of the brake. An equivalent disk
plate was used take place of hydraulic motors. They had the same weight and centroid.
FE model of the windlass was proposed based on HyperMesh software. Because of the
complexity of the chain wheel, the structure was meshed with tetrahedral elements. The
 Finite Element Analysis of Some Anchor Windlass Based on ABAQUS 345

other components were mesh by many brick elements with compatible mode (C3D8I)
and a few of wedge elements (C3D6). In the thickness direction of the brackets, base
plates and ribs, at least two grid layers was used, to prevent shear locking phenomenon.
The mesh consists of 280959 elements and 375531 nodes.
As the relative displacement between the bolt and its contacting component was very
small, the interactions between them were defined by using small sliding surface to
surface contact mode. The lower surfaces of the brackets were fixed. And the gravity of
the model was added at 9.8N/m2.
Supporting load (691KN) was also considered in the analysis. In the supporting load
case, the clutch was pulled out. So the supporting load was only needed to define in the
chain wheel with a coupling constrain (as shown in Fig.3). The finite element model of
the windlass was translated into the input file. Finally, ABAQUS/Standard solver was
used to solve the stiffness equation.

Fig. 2. Finite element model of the windlass Fig. 3. The maximum load chain wheel

4 Results and Discussion

As shown in the Fig.4, the anchor unit in support of the load distribution of the overall
equivalent stress, the stress of spindle 2#, 9# and 12# bracket and its cover, 10#, 11#,
13# and 14# strengthen plate is bigger, but other parts is less, so these key components
are analyzed importantly.

Fig. 4. The overall stress cloud windlass

5 Axis Analysis

As shown in the Fig.5, the stress of the spindle is biggest, the size is 290MPa; because it
is contacting with the chain wheel and close to 12# bracket Fig5 (b) is the maximum of
346 H. Zhuang et al.

the point through with spindle axis parallel to the direction of the stress curve, it can be
seen that spindle peak stress is at the connection of various of bracket and chain wheel,
the stress at connection with the chain wheel is bigger, and other locations are
small(less than 100MPa). At the appearance of two peak stress in the vicinity of the
chain wheel, Section stress axis cloud as shown in Fig.5 (a).As shown in the Figure, the
stress contours is distributed into an oval, elliptical axis and chain wheel load was
vertical, short axis is parallel with the chain wheel load, the stress on the outer surface
of spindle is bigger, but internal stress is less. The stress on the axis total is lower than
its allowable stress (355MPa), so the spindle meets design requirements under the load
strength.

(a) Stress contour (Pa) (b) Axial stress

Fig. 5. Spindle stress distribution

6 Bracket Analysis
As shown in the Fig.6, the stress distribution of 9# and 12# stand when windlass works
in support of load, the maximum stress of 9# and 12# stand was 126MPa and
148.7MPa, symmetrical distributing on the side of Intermediate bracket close to the
chain wheel. In addition, stress concentration is on the upper left of bracket 9#,
maximum 118.41487MPa. Support the overall stress is lower than its allowable stress
(157MPa) [8], it meets design requirements in support of the work load support
strength.

9# stand 12# stand

Fig. 6. Stress contour support (Pa)

 Finite Element Analysis of Some Anchor Windlass Based on ABAQUS 347

7 Analysis of Other Parts

As shown in Table1, Maximum stress of the equivalent stress of windlass bracket
cover and strengthen the board, the maximum stress of 10#, 11#, 13# and 14# strength
plate was in connect with the 12# stand.
It can be seen that these parts meet the design requirements under the support
loads.

Table 1. The maximum stress of machine parts anchor (MPa)

Object Maximum stress Allowable stress

9# Bracket cover 59.9 157
12# Bracket cover 115.4 157
10# Stiffener 59.2 157
11# Stiffener 30.0 157
13# Stiffener 75.3 157
14# Stiffener 41.6 157

8 Conclusion
In this paper, the three-dimensional CAD model was built by Pro/E and finite element
model was built by HyperMesh, and ABAQUS/Standard solver was used to solve the
model calculation, the force was researched in the situation of windlass working
under the support load. As shown in the results, the strength of the anchor windlass
were in the range of allowable values under the support load, the finite element
analysis windlass can provide theoretical guidance for the design.

References
1. Zhou, Z.H., Zheng, X.P., Fan, C.: Petroleum Machinery 30(7), 24–26 (2002) (in Chinese)
2. Fang, Z.X., Zhang, L.D.: Guang Dong Shipbuilding 3(1), 40–42 (2008) (in Chinese)
3. Wang, H., Liu, A.L.: Jiangsu University (Natural Science) 22(3), 1–4 (2008) (in Chinese)
4. Hu, F.C., Zhou, Y., Xiang, Y., Yang, J.G.: Ship & Ocean Engineering 36(2), 53–56 (2007)
(in Chinese)
5. Hu, F.C., Zhou, Y., Xiang, Y., Yang, J.G.: Ship & Ocean Engineering 29(4), 9–12 (2007)
(in Chinese)
6. Hu, F.C., Zhou, Y., Xiang, Y., Yang, J.G.: Hoisting and Conveying Machinery (25), 51–54
(2007) (in Chinese)
7. Guo, H., Xiang, Y., Hu, F.C., Zhou, Y.: Wuhan University of Technology (Transportation
Science & Engineering). 34(4), 827–830 (2010) (in Chinese)
8. China Classification Society. steel ship classification rules. China Communications Press
(2006)