Finite Element Analysis and Optimization of Machine Foundations

Constantly facing the increased requirements for machine efficiency and reliability, designers have to pay attention to every detail including machine foundations. The turbine foundations play an important role in large-scale power stations. Obviously. it has to be designed safely to ensure safety and the normal operation of the whole electricity generating system. Specifically, it is necessary to reduce the vibration level of the foundation under working loads caused by the eccentricity of the rotating parts at a reasonable construction cost. A turbine foundation is typically a frame structure with beams and columns made of reinforced concrete. The external loads acting on the foundation include dead weight and harmonic excitations caused by the eccentricity of the rotating parts. This paper presents the Static and Dynamic analysis of machine foundations and a procedure for optimization of reinforced concrete columns of the spring- mounted machine foundation subjected to dynamic loads. Codes used for determining the unbalanced forces from machines on to foundations are IS 2974(1992)-part 1, IS 2974(1992)- part 3. The software used is ‘ANSYS WORKBENCH 2022 R1’ The results obtained from the finite element analysis of the constructed model are used to obtain optimal design variables as the dimensions of columns.