CONNECTION 3D STRESS ANALYSIS

Satellite 1 (SAT1), Heathrow Terminal 5, London, United Kingdom

Detailed design of certain large steel casting connections of the Satellite 1 (SAT1) building of Heathrow Terminal 5, London, United Kingdom required advanced 3D stress analysis.

Detailed finite element linear static stress analysis was performed in MSC.NASTRAN on the large 2m-high steel casting connection supporting the large span roof’s structural elements. Because of the set-up of the casting being in two separate halves, numerical (automated) contact definitions had to be defined within the iterative linear analyses, as the contact interface formed part of the primary load path and its accurate definition affected the stress distribution greatly. The casting had also a pinned connection at its base hence making the modelling of the actual boundary conditions quite involved.

Note project is a previous principal work experience at Arup.