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Finite element simulations of the loading and deformation of plywood seat shells

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Abstract

Modern 3D modelling software reduces the need for a large number of prototypes, means fewer product-development cycles and lower costs (time/cost), as well as improving the quality of furniture designs. However, the mechanical testing of final products is still required in order to confirm the simulation results. In this study the theoretical behaviors of different plywood seating shells (using the SolidWorks® FEM simulation software) were compared with the real results obtained using tests to measure the deformation of the backrest. The deviations of the actual deformation from the simulation were significant for the different shells and increased with loading above the elastic deformation limit of the material. It was concluded that the SolidWorks® simulation software could be effectively used in the calculation of the component displacements, strains, and stresses of seat designs subject to internal and external loads.

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Acknowledgements

The research was funded by the Slovenian Research Agency, program P4-0015 and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport RS in the frame of the WoodWisdom-Net project W3B Wood Believe. We thank Slavko Rudolf for help in laboratory, Michael Burnard for the language editing, as well as the editors and reviewers for their helpful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Architecture, University of Ljubljana, Zoisova 12, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Srečko Vratuša

  2. Department of Wood Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Rožna dolina, Cesta VIII/34, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Mirko Kariž & Manja Kitek Kuzman

  3. Department of Wood Mechanics and Technology, Forestry Faculty, Istanbul University, Bahçeköy, Sariyer, 34473, Istanbul, Turkey

    Nadir Ayrilmis

Authors
  1. Srečko Vratuša
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  2. Mirko Kariž
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  3. Nadir Ayrilmis
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  4. Manja Kitek Kuzman
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Correspondence to Manja Kitek Kuzman.

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Vratuša, S., Kariž, M., Ayrilmis, N. et al. Finite element simulations of the loading and deformation of plywood seat shells. Eur. J. Wood Prod. 75, 729–738 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-017-1160-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-017-1160-4

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