Initial Analysis of Shear Pin Design

RF

RF

Pin

P15571

The linear actuator can exert a maximum force of 400 lbf. The
reaction force along each side member is then 200 lbf.

The pin is nominally 0.5 in diameter.

The material properties for the calculations below will assume the
pin material is 316 stainless steel, with a shear ultimate of 0.577
75 = 43,275 .

FLA

The stress in the pin is given by = 2 for a pin in double shear, where F is RF in the diagram
above and A is the cross sectional area of the pin.
=

400
=
= 1019
2 2 0. 252

This value is very small compared to the ultimate shear of even soft steels, which means the pin
will not be close to failure under normal conditions. To increase the stress in the pin and bring
its breaking point closer to 400 lbf, there are a few things that can be done. The first is that a
hollow 0.5 sleeve can be used around a smaller diameter pin. This would allow the pin
assembly to fit snugly in the LA hole, which transferring the stress to a smaller diameter pin.
Working backwards from the shear calculation above. The cross sectional area of the pin
required can be found.
=

400
=
= .0046216 2
2 2 43275

This corresponds to a pin diameter of:

= 0.0767 (~

5
)
64

Theoretically, with type 316 stainless steel a 5/64 pin will shear at 400 lbf. Under normal
operations, the pin should experience less than half of this force.
Other alternative for creating the shear pin include turning down the area of the pin near the
LA head to create stress concentrations, or picking a weak and brittle material, such as ceramic.

Shear calculations from Shigleys Mechanical Engineering Design, 9th ed by R. Budynas and J Nisbett
Page reference 452-455, Table A-15 Page 1030

Initial Analysis of Shear Pin Design

P15571

The first method is optimal for easy replacement, because a new standard 1/16 dowel can be
inserted into the sleeve after a failure. There would be no machining of materials required.
The Mechanical engineering department has a number of tensile testers where the team could
test the pin design.
Reducing the diameter of the pin on both sides of the LA mounting hole are investigate below.
These are preliminary calculations and parameters are subject to change.
A grooved shaft design is shown below. The grey zones represent the supported areas.
[Calculations to be detailed further]

r (radius)

RF

RF

RF

.2525
in

1.377
in

D
X=0

0 in

FLA
Shear Force Diagram

.1275
1.442
1.252
.0625in
in
in
in

250
200
150
100
50
0
-50

0.002
0.06
0.118
0.176
0.234
0.292
0.35
0.408
0.466
0.524
0.582
0.64
0.698
0.756
0.814
0.872
0.93
0.988
1.046
1.104
1.162
1.22
1.278
1.336
1.394
1.452

Shear force [lbf]

1.505
in

-100
-150

-200
-250

Location from left support [in]

Shear calculations from Shigleys Mechanical Engineering Design, 9th ed by R. Budynas and J Nisbett
Page reference 452-455, Table A-15 Page 1030

Initial Analysis of Shear Pin Design

P15571

Bending Moment Diagram

20

Bending Moment [in*lb]

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

-20

1.4

1.6
Bending Moment
Groove step down

-40
Groove step up
Groove step down

-60

Groove Step Up
-80

Left Side of LA
Pivot

-100

-120

Location from left support [in]

Bending Moment
0

30 in lb

Kt

11317.68 psi
5.75 -

actual

65076.69 psi

Shear calculations from Shigleys Mechanical Engineering Design, 9th ed by R. Budynas and J Nisbett
Page reference 452-455, Table A-15 Page 1030