Plane analysis of axisymmetric bodies

The approach that was adopted in the previous case study involved a thin-walled pressure vessel, for which the use of shell elements is more suitable. However, there are a variety of axisymmetric problems that involve engineering components with substantial thickness. In such cases, the use of thin shell elements may not be the best choice. This section relates to one such case.

Problem statement – case study 2

Let's start with a bit of background for the case study. In power presses, automobile engines, and a wide variety of power generation/transmission systems, mechanical flywheels are used as part of the energy storage system to smoothen out power delivery [6]. Indeed, recently, the design of the flywheel has taken a central position with the recent shift in consciousness to the demand for renewable energy. In its most basic form, a flywheel unit consists of a shaft and a solid rotating disk acting as the rotor (see Figure...