Structural Analysis of Elements of Passenger Boarding Bridge

Structural analysis of elements of passenger boarding bridge is necessary to achieve endurance and safety in transport network. Elements of pivoting joint which are enclosed by protective bellows have been the subject of these analysis. Aluminum frames connected by protective bellows and attached to the circular rod might be in two operating positions of special interest: the position where two rigid sections connected by articulation make an angle of 0° (firm position) and position where two rigid sections connected by articulation make an angle of 45° (maximum angle position). For the purpose of simplifying the calculation, five aluminum frames have been extracted from the original geometry in a firm position, and to simulate the influence of protective bellows attached to aluminum frames, springs have been added. The main dilemma in the analysis was how to estimate the stiffness of springs. Using data from the protective bellows manufacturer stiffness coefficient of springs was evaluated. However, the stiffness coefficient value was varied through the analysis to assess the influence of this parameter on stress/displacement values, and the difference in obtained results is commented later in this report. Values of displacements and stresses obtained using finite element analyses (FEA) for both positions of frames are given.