Physics-Based Approaches to Simulating Dynamic Phenomena in Containers for Sensitive Cargo

Abstract

This article presents a simulation-based analysis of the dynamic phenomena that occur during the transportation of sensitive cargo in containers. A key element of the studied structures is an internal vibration–isolation system consisting of wire-rope isolators. Each isolator is constructed from two bars connected by a stainless steel wire rope, forming a horizontal spring with nonlinear elastic-damping properties. The dynamic problem with impulsive excitation focuses on kinetic energy transfer and vibration-damping characteristics as critical factors. Multi-body simulation in SolidWorks Motion is compared with finite element analysis using LS-Dyna software, which enables the description of high-energy transient phenomena such as collisions and explosions. The adopted numerical models reveal key differences and inform the appropriate method selection. The paper examines how overloads are transferred to the cargo when a container model is dropped from a specified height. The resultant displacement of the inner frame for both analyzed models is nearly identical, reaching a maximum spring deflection of 0.03 m. Static equilibrium occurs at 0.04 m and 0.05 m for SolidWorks Motion and LS-Dyna, respectively. The results enable the formulation of design guidelines for transport containers aimed at minimizing the risk of cargo damage by optimizing dynamic characteristics and ensuring proper cargo distribution within the structures.