FEA analysis of 12" rotary spark gap disk

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Original poster: "MakingLightning" <MakingLightning@xxxxxxxxxxx>

I am designing a 12" rotary spark gap.
I really wanted some hard numbers so I knew where I stood on the 
safety margins. I also wondered how good a press fit electrode was 
held in. I had it 3D modeled in SDRC IDEAS and then analyzed it with 
their FEA package called Visualizer. It was calculated and the 
numbers matched what the FEA came up with.
It was really nice to see how the press fit stress reacted with the 
spinning disk.

Chip posted graphic representations of the results for me at: 
<http://www.pupman.com/kevin>http://www.pupman.com/kevin

The disk I will be using is:

12" diameter 1/2" thick G-10 fiberglass laminate.
8 - 1/2" diameter x 1.5" long pure tungsten electrodes Top speed 4000 
rpm which equals 533 BPS, way more than I anticipate using.

G10 Fiberglass:
<http://matweb.com/search/SpecificMaterial.asp?bassnum=PGLAM04>http://matweb.com/search/SpecificMaterial.asp?bassnum=PGLAM04

Tungsten:
<http://matweb.com/search/SpecificMaterial.asp?bassnum=AMEW000>http://matweb.com/search/SpecificMaterial.asp?bassnum=AMEW000

In my presentation that chip posted for me you will see that the top 
shot is the disk with the hole in it, at rest.
The one next to it is spinning 4000rpm.

The next set starts with the 0.5" electrode press fit into a hole 
0.0005" undersize hole, as Dr Resonance recommends. On the left is 
the disc at rest and the right is spinning at speed.

The last set is stretched out and the scale increased.

You can see that with the press fit, there is over 9600lbs of force 
holding the electrode in. The set screw added could hurt, help, or 
just not be needed. If someone can get me good data on the material 
properties for putting something into the side of the material, that 
can then be simulated. The mfg does not give that info (see data 
above), as that is not what it is designed for.

As far as the material giving out when my disk is at speed, I think 
there is plenty of safety margin, there is only 1600lbs of force 
pushing the electrode out and the material is good for 38,000 lbs/sq 
in. I feel comfortable proceeding now. I will still build a Lexan 
enclosure for it.

Interesting links:

<http://www.theodoregray.com/PeriodicTable/>http://www.theodoregray.com/PeriodicTable/

http://matweb.com/

I have to give credit for the FEA that was done on this by my fellow 
coworker, Todd List.


Kevin