FEA on Silencer Structural Failure Analysis

Finite element analysis (FEA) is used in many root cause analyses of field failures for blower silencers and locomotive/engine silencers. The purpose of the FEA dynamic frequency response is to determine any high stress regions in the silencer at normal operating conditions, from blower idling to maximum speed. Typically, the compressor’s gas pulsation is high and could be a potential source of strong vibration force. Additionally, a rotational excitation from the driven engine of the compressor could add to the silencer vibrations, resulting in higher stresses around the silencer’s shell along the internal baffle plate. The Creo Simulate was used in the FEA analysis. The FEA forcing functions should be uniform across the interested frequencies. The frequency range and amplitude should be based on the measured data.