DESIGN AND MODELLING OF A PLASTIC SHREDDING MACHINE
Abstract
This research presents the design and finite element analysis (FEA) of a plastic shredding machine designed to address the increasing volume of polyethene terephthalate (PET) waste in urban communities. The machine was constructed using mild steel components and powered by a 4.0 hp electric motor with a shredding capacity of 10 kg/h. The design incorporated critical parameters, such as shaft diameter, gear dimensions, torque, and power transmission, to ensure robustness and reliability. Thermal and structural simulations using SolidWorks and ANSYS revealed that the maximum operational temperature at blade-shaft interfaces reached 55°C, while the highest stress on the support frame was 6.68 kPa, which is below the yield strength of the construction material (293.5 MPa). The observed deformation was negligible, indicating mechanical stability during operation. These findings confirm the viability of the developed shredder for efficient PET waste reduction, with potential for adaptation in small-scale plastic recycling ventures and environmental sustainability initiatives
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.