Numerical analysis of the thermal-elastic-plastic state of electrical contact gasket made from dispersion-reinforced composite materials using the fusioned deposition modeling method

The article presents the results of a theoretical study on determining suitability using electrical contact gaskets (ECG) in industrial conditions (Castner direct graphitization furnaces), made coke-pitch composite additive technologies based Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) method.
 Numerical analysis physical state ECG under application was performed basis mathematical statement thermo-elastic-plasticity problem and algorithm implicit inverse mapping its solution finite element method Mathcad programming environment. To construct geometry tetraid mesh model, freely open program code used - Gmsh CAD system for grid generation, visualization field calculations, free ParaView used.
 thermo-elastic-plastic process Castner furnaces carried out temperature range up to 900 °С, at which thermoplastic properties material are manifested. At same time, such fields were analyzed as distribution, resulting displacements, equivalent elastic stresses according Mises, total, plastic deformations volume fraction state, depending level radial gradient temperatures (radial difference) gaskets.
 simulation force loading by external pressure lateral surface gasket 2.5 MPa different values ​​of difference 15–90 °C °C. It established that: stages formation semi-coke coke thermomechanical operation Kastner furnace, margin strength not less than unity obtained; with subsequent increase furnace 3000 above, raw ECG, result thermal destruction, has already turned into and, therefore, mechanical have become close electrode blanks columns that subjected graphitization. This gives reason assert ECGs will be mechanically destroyed during entire campaign furnace.
 On numerical simulation, possibility from dispersion-reinforced materials (coke-pitch mixtures) FDM technology graphitizing products Сastner is substantiated.