2026-05-19T23:18:05Zhttps://keep.lib.asu.edu/oai/request

oai:keep.lib.asu.edu:node-2006502025-06-02T23:42:04Zoai_pmh:alloai_pmh:repo_items

200650 https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.2.N.200650 http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0 2025-05 22 pages Fuad, Nafis Murthy, Dr. Raghavendra Solanki, Dr. Kiran Barrett, The Honors College Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program This thesis explores how simulation-driven design can enhance the performance and efficiency of solar panel mounting clamps. With solar energy infrastructure expanding, there's an urgent need for hardware that is lightweight, cost-effective, and durable under environmental loads. This study aims to bridge the gap between traditional mechanical design and modern computational tools by comparing clamp designs based on engineering theory with those refined through finite element and topology optimization using ANSYS. Three clamp geometries were modeled and analyzed under realistic loading conditions derived from ASCE 7-16 standards. Each design was evaluated both in its theory-based form and after undergoing structural optimization. Material selection was a parallel focus, weighing the mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, manufacturability, and economic viability of aluminum, regular steel, and galvanized steel. G90 Commercial Steel B emerged as the best candidate, offering a practical balance of strength, durability, and cost. Simulation results demonstrated that optimized clamps could significantly reduce material usage without compromising structural integrity. Clamp 1 and Clamp 2 achieved over 24% weight reduction each, while Clamp 3, limited by its design constraints, prioritized stress reduction instead. These outcomes emphasize that design geometry and boundary conditions play a critical role in optimization potential. Ultimately, this research confirms that integrating simulation tools with engineering design practices leads to more efficient structural components, particularly in applications where cost, weight, and reliability are crucial. The methods developed here provide a foundation for future work in adaptive clamp systems, environmental load simulations, and manufacturable design refinement. Design Optimization Simulation Material Design Optimization of Solar Mount Clamps: Theory, Simulation, and Material Selection