Mechanical device with five-arms tested on service

We present the stress analysis of a pouring concrete device. In order to test the prototype of a pouring concrete equipment composed of fivearms with hollow rectangular cross sections, an extensive study about equipment for pouring concrete has been undertaken. An upgrade of a four-arms device already existing and actually working would be developed. Tests have been performed both on the prototype of the equipment and on a virtual model of the device, performed by a 3D CAD modeler and analyzed through FEM numerical programs. During experimental tests, a laser device has measured deflections at the end of the fifth arm, corresponding to applied loads. For measuring strains in the critical points highlighted by the numerical simulation strain rosette have been employed. In both the static and the dynamic conditions, Mohr's circles have been drawn from the 3D strain state and the 2D plane stress experimental records and they have been compared with those predicted through the finite element analysis. From the comparison between numerical and experimental results, a very good correlation has been obtained for static loading to assess the soundness of the virtual model.