Volute > Wall thickness

► VOLUTE | Wall thickness

The volute's material solid can be designed by activating the "Wall thickness design" feature on the right side. Initial contours will be visible, which can be manipulated using the edit controls for the material thickness and for the angles of the conical endings.

The "Thickness" parameter defines the orthogonal distance of the outer material walls from the flow surfaces of the spiral and the diffuser. The modeling of the outer walls at the cut-water is not based on orthogonal distance but on a smooth transition between the spiral and the diffuser, hence the material thickness differs in this area.

Informational values for the tangential and for the meridional stress within the material solid are given. The values are coarse approximations based on a simplified pipe bend model. They can be used to define a suitable material thickness, but don't substitute more advanced stress analysis techniques.

Tangential stress

Meridional stress

(max. value at φ = 270°)

(e.g. Dubbel: Handbook of Mechanical Engineering/ Strength of materials)

The angle parameters for both sides of the material cross section define the end shape on the conical side of the spiral material solid (conical endings).

The 3D model of the material solid can finally be obtained within the 3D model main view:

Possible warnings

Problem	Possible solutions
Left / Right / Inner / Outer angle lead to intersection with flow volume.
The contour of the left / right / inner / outer conical spiral ending intersects the flow volume.	Change angle of the end shape at the related position.
Material contours intersect internal bend contours.
Spiral's material contours intersect the internal bend. A material wall design for the internal bend is currently not supported.	Change angle of the related end shape or reduce thickness.
Conical endings intersect each other.
Contours of both conical end shapes intersect each other.	Change angles of the end shapes.
Spiral material contour could not be computed.
Spiral's material cross section could not be computed.	Change thickness. Change spiral's cross section geometry.
Material contour at tongue could not be computed.
A valid material contour at flow domain's tongue could not be computed.	Change thickness. Change cut-water type. Change cut-water geometry.
3D-Error: Computing spiral / diffuser / intake wall thickness failed!
Computing 3D geometry for any material cross section of spiral / diffuser / intake failed.	Change thickness. Change cross section geometry of spiral. Change geometry of diffuser / intake.
3D-Error: Computing conical endings failed!
Updating 3D material cross sections of the spiral to fit the conical end shape failed.	Change angles of the end shapes.
3D-Error: Adapting diffuser / intake wall surface to conical endings failed!
Updating 3D material cross sections of the diffuser / intake to fit the conical end shape of the spiral failed.	Change angles of the end shapes.
3D-Error: Computing spiral / diffuser / intake wall surface failed!
A valid 3D surface for the material solid of spiral / diffuser / intake could not be computed.	Change thickness. Change angles of the end shapes.
3D-Error: Could not create rounding surface!
A valid 3D surface for the material solid at flow domain's cut-water could not be computed.	Change thickness. Change cut-water type. Change cut-water geometry.
3D-Error: Could not create Material domain!
A valid 3D solid geometry of the volute's material domain could no be computed.	Change thickness.
3D-Error: Rounding material walls intersect Flow domain!
Rounding material wall surface intersects the flow volume near the cut-water.	Change cut-water geometry. Change thickness.