Finite element modelling of strains and stresses in platinum alloy bushings for textile glass fibre production

Abstract

Platinum components are now very widely used in the manufacture and processing of glass. At first sight it is, therefore, surprising that finite element modelling (FEM) is seldom used in their design. The reason for this omission is to be found in the specific type of mechanical loading at high temperatures and the lack of appropriate mechanical property data for the structural materials. Using the example of a glass fibre bushing from an indirect melt fiberizing proeess, the paper will demonstrate the use of FEM to determine the stresses resulting from the hydrostatie pressure of the glass melt, the intrinsic weight of the bushing, the stresses caused by the forces applied to withdraw the fibres from the bushing, and the stresses induced by the inhomogeneous temperature distribution in the bushing. On the basis of these model calculations it was possible to localize regions of stress concentrations, to select an appropriate structural material and to modify the component design to reduce the stresses.