Citation :

Shely Roxana Figueroa Mercado, Meza Terbullino Giancarlo Fernando, Jauregui Ttito Sthefane Suan,Jean Fernando Perez Montesinos, "Comparative Finite Element Analysis of Hinges: Butt Hinge and Concealed Hinge for Residential Opening Systems," International Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 49-58, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V13I6P104

Abstract

Hinge elements are critical structural elements used in opening systems for homes. Most of the time, the selection of one hinge over another is done empirically, without performing numerical comparisons between the various hinge configurations. The current study investigates the structural behavior of butt and concealed hinges by Finite Element Analysis (FEA) under the same loading conditions. Real hinge geometries were modeled in ANSYS, applying static load with a safety factor of 2.0, in accordance with ANSI/BHMA A156.1, for a 35 kg door. Two positions were modeled: closed (180°), which includes both vertical and horizontal loads, and open (90°), with pure vertical load. The outcomes obtained show that both types of hinges exhibit critical behavior in opposite positions: butt hinges are more vulnerable when opening (236.35 MPa, SF 1.06) and optimal when closing (87.54 MPa, F 2.86), while concealed hinges show the opposite behavior (199.57 MPa in closing, F 1.25; 82.04 MPa in opening, SF 3.05). Based on the safety criteria presented in the ANSI/BHMA A156.1 standard, it can be concluded that none of the proposed configurations meet the minimum safety criteria (SF ≥ 1.5) in both positions. These results show that the choice of hinges must take into account the specific mode of operation, while providing quantifiable technical criteria for a specification based on actual structural performance.

Keywords

Butt hinge, Concealed hinge, Finite Element Analysis, Residential door systems, Safety Factor.

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