International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management (IJSREM)

Volume: 06 Issue: 03 | March - 2022 ISSN: 2582-3930

Design And Analysis of Bucket Elevator Bucket

using static structural analysis method
Amitesh Singh Bhadoria, Nishant Singh Kushwah
M.Tech Research Scholar , Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vikrant Institute of Technology & Management Gwalior
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vikrant Institute of Technology & Management Gwalior

Abstract— Bulk, dry, moist, and even liquid items are transported using bucket elevators. Depending on the type of material to be transported, it is
constructed for various criteria like as height, speed, and structural strength. The project's major goal is to boost the ele vator bucket's weight bearing
capability. The relief of strain on the bucket lead edges and clamping bolts is another goal. When bucket elevators are subjected to extreme operating
circumstances or buildup (in the case of sticky bulk materials), they are prone to malfunction. High capacity buckets are int ended to hold heavier loads in
order to prevent these issues. The finite element method can be used to do this. Solidworks 2018 was used to create a 3D mode l of a Bucket
Elevator.and analyzed using ANSYS 16.1.

Index Terms— Handling of Material, Bucket Elevator, Bucket, Solidworks 2018, ANSYS, Cad modelling, CAE, FEM, FEA, Static structural

————————————————————
I. INTRODUCTION II. LITERATURE REVIEW
Material Handling is a part of consumer industry. For every N. Yashaswini, et al. [1] studied ―Design and Optimization
product which is produced has to be transported at some of bucket elevator using FEA‖, In this paper Bucket is
point of time or stored at storage. So what is Material designed to carry materials at a height of 10m. Bucket is
Handling? Material handling is defined as the storage and designed in NX software. Vibration analysis is carried out
movement of materials. The material handling industry is using the ANSYS. In this paper dynamic behaviour of the
efficient as the material handling equipment. Material Bucket is also studied.
Handling Solutions provides the best material handling
equipment available for moving and storing materials Hemlata H. Mulik and Bhaskar D [2] studied ―Design of
affectively and quickly [1]. To move the material from Sugar Bucket Elevator and Roller Conveyor Chain for 20
specific points conveyors are used which also divided into Tonnes per Hour Capacity‖, in this paper Roller conveyor is
based on the type of load handled. Screw conveyor and belt designed and loading condition is described.
bucket conveyor are the basic example of the conveyor. A
conveyor system is used for identification and separation. Snehal Patel, et al. [3] studied ―Design and Analysis of
The conveyor system consists of the roller, flat belt and different part of Bucket elevators‖, Failure of shaft is the
chute segments which is having variable arms.Central main reason for the failure of bucket. In this paper shaft
bucket elevators are used to move materials upwards analysis is done and material is updated to avoid the failure.
directions at particular height. The elevators use an endless
chain/belt which is attached with the buckets. The bulk F.J. C. Rademacher [4] analysed, ―Non-Spill Discharge
material is divided based on an inlet hopper where the Characteristics of Bucket Elevators‖ Backflow causes failure
buckets takes the material and convey it up and over the of bucket. In this paper spill free characteristics of bucket is
head sprocket. Thereafter, the buckets take the material out studied.
via a discharge spout [3] as shown in Figure 1 The buckets
are returned down to the tail sprocket at the bottom. The Edward Yin, et al. [5] studied, ―Bucket Elevator central
bucket elevator consists of buckets to contain the material, chain links is analysed―. To reduce the production down
chain or belt drive to carry the buckets and transmit the pull. time it is necessary to replace chain links as soon as
In addition, it also has electrical motor to drive the chain or possible as it caused the loss of productivity. To study this
belt, loading and discharge spout for loading the buckets at chemical and Metallurgical analysis is carried out.
the boot and receiving the discharged material at the head
respectively. Tensioning device is also installed for Gazi Abu Taher, et al. [6] studied, ―Automation in Material
maintaining the chain/belt tension. All these accessories are Handling with different techniques‖. Belt conveyor and
enclosed and protected in a casing [1]. Bucket elevator is used to move the material from one point
to other point. In this paper mainly the difference between
both this technique is carried out with the experimentation.

Kulkarni Digambar, et al. [7] studied, ―Chain breakdown

of Bucket elevator using analysis‖, in this paper chain drive
is designed and analysed which is used to drive the bucket
elevator. Roller chain and Sprocket chain is replaced by the
duplex chain.

Figure 1: Central chain bucket elevator [3]

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 International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management (IJSREM)
Volume: 06 Issue: 03 | March - 2022 ISSN: 2582-3930

IV. PROBLEM STATEMENT AND METHODOLOGY

In this section, two buckets made up from different material Problem Statement
is studied. We have chosen a bucket from the manufacturer Bucket elevators are widely used equipment in mechanical
catalogue to obtain the required size. Based on the size, industry. Satisfactory level of materials we are using till now
CAD model is formed in Solidworks. We have considered for buckets are not sufficient so it is always advisable to find
the Coir pith material for loading and unloading. After the new material. Vibration can cause failure of structure.
finalizing the CAD model, Analysis is done using the ANSYS
for two different materials which is Steel and Epoxy. Based Systematic Methodology for project
on the analysis results, final conclusion is obtained.
● To study about the bucket including the type of
failure.
III. BUCKET ELEVATOR ● To study the various work on this subject including
A bucket elevator is used to move the various bulk materials reading previous research papers on this subject.
in upwards direction. Vertical elevators depend on ● To design the bucket for the particular application
centrifugal force so that materials will flow in to the by using the analytical method.
discharge chute and runs at high speed. Centrifugal bucket ● Modeling the geometry in the CAD software.
elevator is having the spaced bucked with rounded bottoms. ● Pre-processing of geometry in the Analysis
These buckets are mounted on elevator either close to each software.
other or mounted apart. Bucket elevator is consists of flat ● Processing the results.
chain on which small bucket is bolted. Most of the times ● Post-processing the result including getting various
rubber belt with plastic bucket is also used. Pulleys are used results.
on top and bottom with specified diameter. The pulley is ● Experimentation of the bucket.
driven by an electric motor. The elevator allows the ● Validation of the results.
materials sent to the chosen bin.
V. ANALYTICAL DESIGN
Attachments of Buckets To handle varieties of dry and wet materials, design and
manufacturing criteria is very important which is handled by
CHAIN Martin Conveyor Designs In this project, we are selecting
With the used of hex head bolts, bucket is attached to the Centrifugal Discharge Chain elevator for design and
chain with lock washers. As from the figure 2, bolt head is analysis of bucket. For design of bucket we are referring
inside the bucket. Martin catalogue, this catalogue is designed to make a
preliminary selection of a bucket elevator and bucket size.
BELTS
To attached buckets to the belt, Norway bolt or oval head Style AA
type bolt is used. As from figure 2, the flat of oval head is Malleable iron buckets generally used for free flowing
placed on the pulley side of the belt with the use of a lock materials. Centrifugal Discharge buckets can be mounted
washer and nut. Pliable washer is used between the belt on chain or belt.
and bucket.

Figure 3: CATIA Model

Figure 2: Bucket Attachments [9]

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 International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management (IJSREM)
Volume: 06 Issue: 03 | March - 2022 ISSN: 2582-3930

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH VOLUME 9, ISSUE 03, MARCH 2020 ISSN 2277-8616

Design Calculation Material Steel Epoxy

Young Modulus (GPa) 200 35

Figure 4: Bucket volume detail view
Volume of a semi-circular Poisson’s Ratio 0.3 0.4
3
Density(Kg/m ) 7850 1.8

Yield Strength (MPa) 250 80

Boundary Condition
A boundary condition for the model is set a load at particular
Volume of rectangle point to define the factors like displacements and stress.
These applied to points, surfaces and edges. Before
applying the Boundary condition we need to constraint the
model first. Over and under constraints gives an inaccurate
results.
Volume of rectangle
Total Deformation
The total deformation & directional deformation are general
terms in finite element methods irrespective of software
being used.
Total volume of elevator bucket

Particle density = 0.8g/cc = 800

m= 0.8Kg
Total mass of coir pith collected in bucket 0.8 Kg
Force apply on bucket is mass
= 0.8 9.8
= 7.84 N

VI. ANALYSIS
The FEM is mathematical approach to solve the engineering Figure 6: Boundary Condition
application and Physics problems. This method is used to
solve Heat Transfer analysis, Structural analysis problems.
The method gives approximate values at discrete number of
points. From this method we can calculate the Stress and
Strain at various part of the model.

Figure 7: Total Deformation of Steel Bucket

Figure 5: Geometry of Model

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 International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management (IJSREM)
Volume: 06 Issue: 03 | March - 2022 ISSN: 2582-3930

● Capacity / 20000 Optional On board Extensometer

facility with 1-micron resolution & up to 20 mm
travel. 20 data set storage ( 00 to 19) 75 Results
Storage ( Related to one data set) Data Entry &
Parameter selection through Keyboard Non Volatile
memory for Result & test data storage.
● All Stored Results & Last test complete data with
Graph will be available.
● Result & Graph printout, Certificate, Batch &
Statistics Printout including Standard deviation.
● kN / kg unit selection for Displayed Load & Results.
● On Board Overload Relay for Load Safety &
Encoder Over, travel safety.
● Accurate 2 point Digital Calibration from Panel &
PC Software.
● RS232c serial interface for PC connection with
variety of latest Windows based software for data
logging & analysis.
Figure 8: Total Deformation of Epoxy Bucket ● Real time Online Graph on PC.
● Once PC connected this becomes complete PC
controlled system, with all Displays & Key functions
on PC screen.

Test Plots

Figure 9: Equivalent Stress of Steel Bucket

Figure 11: Load vs. Deformation plot for Steel Bucket

Figure 10: Equivalent stress of Epoxy Bucket Figure 12: Load vs. Deformation plot for Epoxy Bucket

VII. EXPERIMENTAL TESTING VIII. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

A universal testing machine (UTM) is used to test tensile Bucket elevator was studied thoroughly. Design was based
strength and compressive strength of material. Below is the on the application and Bucket manufacturer catalogue is
specification of the UTM. mentioned. 3D model is drawn in CATIA V5. The Analysis
was carried out with the help of ANSYS software.
Specification:

● High Speed Latest Micro controller-based

Technology
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 International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management (IJSREM)
Volume: 06 Issue: 03 | March - 2022 ISSN: 2582-3930

● 20000 Load Counts in one Range, Load Resolution

= Machine
From the analysis results, it is clear that the strength of the [4] F. J. C. Rademacher, ―Non-Spill Discharge
epoxy bucket is more than that of the original material of the Characteristics of Bucket Elevators‖, Powder
bucket. From the UTM testing, Load carrying capacity for Technology, Volume 22, Issue 10, 2014.
both the bucket is carried out. Steel bucket is having load [5] Edward Yin, Onumus Muvengei, John Kihiu, Kenneth
carrying capacity up to 10 kg and Epoxy bucket is sustain up Njoroge,‖Failure Analysis on Conveyor Chain Links of a
to 6 kg. Central Bucket Elevator‖, IOSR Journal of Mechanical
and Civil Engineering Volume 13, Issue 4 Ver. VII
Table 2: Static Analysis Result (2016), PP 56-63.
Sr. Specifications Steel Epoxy [6] Ghazi Abu Taher, Yousuf Howlader, Md. Asheke Rabbi,
No. Bucket Bucket Fahim Ahmed Touqir, ―Automation of Material Handling
1. Total Deformation 0.0074 0.013319 with Bucket Elevator and Belt Conveyor‖, International
(mm) Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume
2. Equivalent Stress 9.76 8.58 4, Issue 3, 2014
(MPa) [7] Kulkarni Digambar Rangnathrao, Prof Swami M.C, Mr.
Shinde, ―Experimental Analysis of Bucket Elevator
Table 3: Weight Comparison Chain Breakdown‖, International Research Journal of
Engineering and Technology Volume: 05 Issue: 05 |
Sr. No. Case Weight (Kg) 2018
[8] TusharSHingve,Y.A.Kharche,N.A
1 Steel Bucket 0.624
Kharche,‖Diagnosis for the failure of sprocket and chain
2 Epoxy Bucket 0.147 drive‖ International Research Journal of Engineering
and Technology,2017, 2394-8280.
Weight Reduction = (Existing - Optimized) / Existing [9] Sunil Tukaram Shinde, Shailesh S Pimpale, ―Modal
= (0.624 – 0.147)/0.624 Analysis and Material Optimization of Elevator Bucket‖
= 76.4 % International Journal of Engineering science Volume 6
Issue No. 7, 2015.
IX. CONCLUSION [10] Swapnil P. Deokar, Prof. Ashish Lagad, Prof. S.S
Kelkar, ―FEA and Optimization of Elevator Bucket‖
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● Bucket elevator was studied thoroughly. Design
975-980, 2015.
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[12] A. Göksenli, I.B. Eryürek, ‖Failure analysis of an elevator
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 International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management (IJSREM)
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 International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management (IJSREM)
Volume: 06 Issue: 03 | March - 2022 ISSN: 2582-3930

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH VOLUME 9, ISSUE 03, MARCH 2020 ISSN 2277-8616

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