Article: Enhancing the safety and reliability for loading and unloading bulk storage bags and a new bulk feeder support design structure Journal: International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology (IJCAET) 2022 Vol.17 No.4 pp.462 - 479 Abstract: Super bags are used to pack large and heavy bulk materials. They are durable; however they can be damaged by improper handling or misuse. Ensuring the safety of the operators who handle heavy bags is a main concern. The first objective is designing a backup safety frame to support the suspended bags by the hoist. The second objective is designing a spider bag support system compatible with the new frame and able to lift the super bag as required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration 1926.554 standard. Minimising weight and reducing cost were taken into consideration. The new frame and spider combined design mechanical properties were simulated using ANSYS™ software. The results showed the maximum deflection found at the spider was 1.78 × 10<SUP align="right"><SMALL>-3</SMALL></SUP> m, while the maximum strain was 0.0006 for 250 MPa material yield stress. The maximum stress was 100 Mpa located at the hopper's base. The combined design safety factor was 2.503 and fatigue safety factor was 1.45. This study concluded the new frame and spider structure will achieve the desired objectives and meet the OSHA regulations. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Enhancing the safety and reliability for loading and unloading bulk storage bags and a new bulk feeder support design structure

Authors: Khaled Alkhaledi; Kenneth Means; Doraid Dalalah

Addresses: Department of Industrial and Management Systems Engineering, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, Safat, 13060, Kuwait ' Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, West Virginia University, USA ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, University of Sharjah, UAE

Abstract: Super bags are used to pack large and heavy bulk materials. They are durable; however they can be damaged by improper handling or misuse. Ensuring the safety of the operators who handle heavy bags is a main concern. The first objective is designing a backup safety frame to support the suspended bags by the hoist. The second objective is designing a spider bag support system compatible with the new frame and able to lift the super bag as required by Occupational Safety and Health Administration 1926.554 standard. Minimising weight and reducing cost were taken into consideration. The new frame and spider combined design mechanical properties were simulated using ANSYS™ software. The results showed the maximum deflection found at the spider was 1.78 × 10^-3 m, while the maximum strain was 0.0006 for 250 MPa material yield stress. The maximum stress was 100 Mpa located at the hopper's base. The combined design safety factor was 2.503 and fatigue safety factor was 1.45. This study concluded the new frame and spider structure will achieve the desired objectives and meet the OSHA regulations.

Keywords: bulk bags safety; spider support; hoist safety; stress and fatigue.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAET.2022.126661

International Journal of Computer Aided Engineering and Technology, 2022 Vol.17 No.4, pp.462 - 479

Received: 18 Feb 2022
Accepted: 11 Aug 2022
Published online: 31 Oct 2022 *

Title: Enhancing the safety and reliability for loading and unloading bulk storage bags and a new bulk feeder support design structure

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