SIMPLE CYCLE (SCR)
HLA was responsible for the structural analysis and design of a simple cycle SCR duct. A finite element model was
created to accurately review the stress and deflections due to the wind and seismic loads. Wind loads governed
over seismic. A buckling analysis was also performed for each wind direction to insure that no local plate buckling
would occur. Snow and ice loads, along with live loads, were also included. The base plate thickness and anchor
bolts were sized based on reactions from the FEA model. After the analysis and design were complete, a set of
fabrication drawings were generated for the duct.
WIND TOWER FATIGUE
HLA was responsible for determining the fatigue life of a critical component of a wind turbine support tower. The
tower was 216 feet high, supporting a power generator and blade assembly weighing approximately 150,000
lbs. For personnel access, a doorway was placed at the bottom of the structure, in the region of highest loads. It
was required to determine the fatigue life of the existing design, then propose alternate designs to increase the
fatigue life. HLA created a detailed solid finite element model of the doorway, and inserted it into a model of the
entire tower. Throughout the analysis process, HLA was able to make design changes that increased the fatigue
life of the tower threefold.
CATENARY TEST FIXTURE
A stress analysis was conducted to verify the stresses and welded joints for a 1000 kip test fixture for catenary
bearings. The entire model was created with beam and solid elements. The actuator was loaded for the maximum
permissible axial and cocking loads. The stresses and margins of safety for each part were computed. Welds and
connections were checked for allowable stresses.
