Analysis of Earthquake Impact on Solar Houses via Finite Element Method - ABAQUS
Date
2017-09
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Publisher
Alfred University. Inamori School of Engineering.
Abstract
Solar PV systems may be considered in areas affected by earthquakes. However, such solar systems should be designed to resist earthquakes. The impacts on solar systems will be studied as the first step.
Earthquake generates the most extreme vibration as a natural disaster. An increasing number of active solar PV systems are being installed on solar houses located in earthquake zones. The impact of earthquakes on these solar homes needs to be assessed as these facilities are relatively new. With an earthquake and sunlight occurring simultaneously, the solar PV modules may still generate electricity. Yet, there is concern that the wires may short circuit due to wires crossing path, which creates a fire hazard. For solar house applications, there is no single code/regulation/standard dealing with earthquake safety in California. Some houses with smaller roof slopes are having solar panels rest on the roofs, thereby using frictional forces to restrain the solar harvesting equipment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possibilities of damage due to earthquakes. According to the earthquake analysis, earthquakes might cause two events in sequence: one, exposing the bare metal wires, and two, shorting two leads. With flammable materials nearby, a fire may be started due to the two situations mentioned up above.
Researchers normally invest in a significant amount of time and money for quality verification of products; the most common structural analysis is used in shocking and striking experiments. In order to improve safety assurance, manufactures expect to make more environmental-friendly and safer products in a short amount of time. With the purpose of enhancing shock resistance and seismic resistance, traditional methods are used to conduct physical experiment for finding solutions. Thus, a process of design, manufacture, tests and re-design are required. This procedure will waste a significant amount of man power and material resources. On the other hand, due to the limitation of the equipment's size, quality and price, physical experiment is beset with difficulties. Taking advantage of using FEA simulation tests can make up for the deficiency of this challenge. FEA software could finish simulating and getting results from the computer model before the sample was created. This will give researchers an advanced knowledge in impact resistance and antiknock characteristics. This will help cut down the research period, maximize use of research funding, and heighten safety and practicability. Utilizing the FEA software, this thesis analyzes and simulates the potential damage due to material failure or bare wire metals suffering from seismic acceleration.
In this study, a dynamic earthquake simulation was conducted on solar houses. Finite Element Analysis was performed to obtain the variation of stress magnitude at critical locations.
Description
Thesis completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the Inamori School of Engineering, Alfred University
Type
Thesis
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Keywords
Buildings--Earthquake effects, Solar collectors, Finite element method