Modeling and Simulation of Stress Distribution and Crack Configuration of the Geometry of Ceramic Water Filter

Abstract

Most countries in Africa are faced with difficult challenges in terms of providing safe, clean drinking water for their citizens. The world Health organization estimates that approximately 500 lives are lost per day in Nigeria from water related diseases while globally, 1.1 billion lack access to improve water supplies. Point-Of-use water treatment technologies, such as household ceramic water filters, offer an affordable and effective means of treating water to standards suitable for drinking. The fact that ceramic water filter can be produced locally with local material makes it attractive as a point-of-use treatment technology that is affordable, appropriate and sustainable. Ceramics are brittle and therefore Ceramic water filters are faced with the issue of breakages and rupture during transportation and usage. The focus of this study is on using finite element method with the aid of Abaqus software to model and simulate the stress distribution and crack behavior within the geometry of ceramic water filter. Also try to come out with the optimum choice of filter geometry that can be used by producers of ceramic water filter to help address the rampant breakages and rupturing of water filters. Three shapes of geometry were considered in this study. These are the frustum shape, the cylindrical (circle) and the rectangular (square) base shape. Recommendations for future work include the maximum impulse force before fracturing and the critical thickness for reservoir.