Analyses of Stress Distribution in Overhanging Traffic Sign Pole Using Finite Element Method

Abstract

This research is an analysis of stress and strain distribution in the overhanging traffic sign
pole by using finite element method. The SolidWorks program was used to create the model and
Cosmos program (a finite element analyses commercial program) was used to analyze the model in
order to study the stress distribution in the overhanging traffic sign pole. The finite element analysis
method (FEA) results were compared with the mathematical equation results and the experimental
results, the overhanging traffic sign pole with model 1:6 of real size. The compared results showed
a good agreement between three methods. Especially, the compared results between the FEA and
mathematical equation results are much closed. The percent error between these two methods is
1%. Therefore, we can conclude that the FEA model of traffic sign pole can be used for solving
problems of this traffic sign pole under body force load. The analyzed results of real size of the
overhanging traffic sign pole showed that the maximum stress occurred at the main pole of the
traffic sign pole is about 48 MPa. The maximum stress can be use to determine the value of safety
factor. It is showed that the safety factor of this traffic sign pole is about 5. And for other main parts
of the traffic sign pole, the highest safety factor is about 9. It is very high for safety factor value.
Anyway, these are results under body force loading only.