Deflection due to self-weight,a comparision between Prismatic bar and Conical bar

As per the basic Mechanics of solid, a conical bar having same specific weight as a prismatic bar^* will experience less deflection due to self-weight. And the deflection of the prismatic bar will be 3 times more than the deflection of a conical bar. To illustrate this concept, an ANSYS Static structural tutorial has been made, to show that how we can solve and find the amount of deflection by using “FINITE ELEMENT METHOD” ,in this current tutorial, three bars has been taken, two are prismatic and one is conical, all the three have the same volume, the sides of the square cross-section and radius of the cone base has been found out by equating the volume. The material of the bars is Stainless Steel, fixed at one end. Standard acceleration due to gravity has been considered to add weight to these bars.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:

From the ANSYS static structural simulation, it has been found that: The deflection due to self-weight in prismatic bars is same for circular as well as Square cross-section bar, whereas in case of conical bar the deflection is less (i,e 1/3rd that of Prismatic bar).

*What is a Prismatic bar?

Bar having same cross-section throughout its length