A new nonlinear force model to replace the Hertzian contact model in a rigid-rotor ball bearing system

A new nonlinear force model based on experimental data is proposed to replace the classical Hertzian contact model to solve the fractional index nonlinearity in a ball bearing system. Firstly, the radial force and the radial deformation are measured by statics experiments, and the data are fitted respectively by using the Hertzian contact model and the cubic polynomial model. Then~ the two models are compared with the approximation formula appearing in Aeroengine Design Manual. In consequence, the two models are equivalent in an allowable deformation range. After that, the relationship of contact force and contact deformation for single rolling element between the races is cal- culated based on statics equilibrium to obtain the two kinds of nonlinear dynamic models in a rigid-rotor ball bearing system. Finally~ the displacement response and frequency spectrum for the two system models are compared quantitatively at different rotational speeds, and then the structures of frequency-amplitude curves over a wide speed range are compared qualitatively under different levels of radial clearance, amplitude of excitation, and mass of supporting rotor. The results demonstrate that the cubic polynomial model can take place of the Hertzian contact model in a range of deformation.

Analysis of Leakage in Bolted-Flanged Joints Using Contact Finite Element Analvsis

The evolution of leakage is studied using detailed contact finite element analysis. The distribution of stress at the gasket is analyzed using a contact condition based on slide-line elements using ABAQUS, a commercial finite element code, Slide-line elements also take into account pressure penetration as contact that is lost between flange and gasket. Results are presented for a particular flange, a raised face flange sealed by a mild steel gasket. A comparison of the results from the gasket contact analysis and the contact conditions specified by the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Sections VIII, Division 1 shows that the conditions specified in the ASME Code predict leakage relatively accurately.

Simulation Studies on the Settlement of Composite Foundation with Contact Element of Zero Thickness

The various factors influencing the settlement of composite foundation have been more completely studied through numerical simulation. The influence on the settlement of composite foundation of the geometry and mechanical properties of the pile, soil, cushion, and the interface between pile and soil have been investigated through computer simulation, in which the contact elements with zero thickness are used. Some valuable conclusions for the settlement of composite foundation have been obtained: (1) The method using the contact element of zero thickness is successful when used in the simulation of the settlement of composite foundation; (2) Among the factors influencing the settlement of composite foundation, the compression modulus of the soil is the largest, and the cohesion of the soil is the second largest; (3) The effects on settlement of the internal friction angle of the soil, the elastic modulus, the radius, and the length of the pile, and the elestic modulus of the cushion are also more obvious.

DEM investigation of weathered rocks using a novel bond contact model

The distinct element method（DEM） incorporated with a novel bond contact model was applied in this paper to shed light on the microscopic physical origin of macroscopic behaviors of weathered rock, and to achieve the changing laws of microscopic parameters from observed decaying properties of rocks during weathering. The changing laws of macroscopic mechanical properties of typical rocks were summarized based on the existing research achievements. Parametric simulations were then conducted to analyze the relationships between macroscopic and microscopic parameters, and to derive the changing laws of microscopic parameters for the DEM model. Equipped with the microscopic weathering laws, a series of DEM simulations of basic laboratory tests on weathered rock samples was performed in comparison with analytical solutions. The results reveal that the relationships between macroscopic and microscopic parameters of rocks against the weathering period can be successfully attained by parametric simulations. In addition, weathering has a significant impact on both stressestrain relationship and failure pattern of rocks.

Implications of seismic pounding on the longitudinal response of multi-span bridges-an analytical perspective

Seismic pounding between adjacent frames in multiple-frame bridges and girder ends in multi-span simply supported bridges has been commonly observed in several recent earthquakes.The consequences of pounding include damage to piers,abutments,shear keys,bearings and restrainers,and possible collapse of deck spans.This paper investigates pounding in bridges from an analytical perspective.A simplified nonlinear model of a multiple-frame bridge is developed including the effects of inelastic frame action and nonlinear hinge behavior,to study the seismic response to longitudinal ground motion.Pounding is implemented using the contact force-based Kelvin model,as well as the momentum-based stereomechanical approach.Parameter studies are conducted to determine the effects of frame period ratio,column hysteretic behavior,energy dissipation during impact and near source ground motions on the pounding response of the bridge.The results indicate that pounding is most critical for highly out-of-phase frames and is not significant for frame period ratios greater than 0.7.Impact models without energy dissipation overestimate the displacement and acceleration amplifications due to impact,especially for elastic behavior of the frames.Representation of stiffness degradation in bridge columns is essential in capturing the accurate response of pounding frames subjected to far field ground motion.Finally,it is shown that strength degradation and pounding can result in significant damage to the stiffer frames of the bridge when subjected to large acceleration pulses from near field ground motion records.

Response analysis of buried pipelines crossing fault due to overlying soil rupture

A 3-D soil-pipe nonlinear finite element model with contact element is suggested and the influences of the rupture mode, thickness and rigidity of overlying soil on the response of buried pipeline are analyzed. The numerical results show that the soil rupture mode determines the location of the large deformation or failure of the pipeline, and the plastic de- formation of the pipeline occurs at the zone where the plastic deformation or rupture of the overlying soil appears. When the fault dip angle on bedrock is near 90°, two plastic deformation sections of the pipeline appear with the development of overlying soil rupture. And the thicker the overlying soil is, the longer the plastic deformation length of the pipeline is and the less its strain is. The plastic deformation length of the pipeline decreases while its maximum strain increases with the rigidity of overlying soil increasing.

Determination of interference fit value on entire roller embedded shapemeter roll

For entire roller embedded shapemeter roll, the relationship between the value of interference fit and the sensor pre-pressure, and the pressure transfer performance of shapemeter roll were analyzed by elasticity theory during the cold reversible rolling process. Considering the influence of strip temperature on the interference fit, the distributions of contact pressure of the framework's top surface and the sensor pre-pressure on different values of interference fit were analyzed by the finite element technology. The results show that the contact pressure of the framework's top surface and the sensor pre-pressure increase with the increase of the value of interference fit. When the value of interference fit is between 0.05 mm and 0.09 mm, roll body's inner hole surface, the framework and pressure magnetic sensitive component don't separate from each other, and the sensor works in the linear segment of characteristic curve, so the normal operation of shapemeter roll is guaranteed.

Formulations of a hydromechanical interface element

A hydromechanical interface element is proposed for the consideration of the hydraulic-mechanical coupling effect along the interface.The fully coupled governing equations and the relevant finite element formulations are derived in detail for the interface element.All the involved matrices are of the same form as those of a solid element,which makes the incorporation of the model into a finite element program straightforward.Three examples are then numerically simulated using the interface element.Reasonable results confirm the correctness of the proposed model and motivate its application in hydromechanical contact problems in the future.

Local buckling of thin plate on tensionless elastic foundations under interactive uniaxial compression and shear

This paper uses a mathematical method to develop an analytical solution to the local buckling behaviour of long rectangular plates resting on tensionless elastic Winkler foundations and under combined uniform longitudinal uniaxial compressive and uniform in-plane shear loads. Fitted formulas are derived for plates with clamped edges and simplified supported edges. Two examples are given to demonstrate the application of the current method： one is a plate on tensionless spring foundations and the other is the contact between the steel sheet and elastic solid foundation. Finite element （FE） analysis is also conducted to validate the analytical results. Good agreement is obtained between the current method and FE analysis.

Investigation of Micro-mechanical Response of Asphalt Mixtures by a Three-dimensional Discrete Element Model

The micro-mechanical response of asphalt mixtures was studied using the discrete element method. The discrete element sample of stone mastic asphalt was generated first and the vehicle load was applied to the sample. A user-written program was coded with the FISH language in PFC3 D to extract the contact forces within the sample and the displacements of the particles. Then, the contact forces within the whole sample, in asphalt mastic, in coarse aggregates and between asphalt mastic and coarse aggregates were investigated. Finally, the movement of the particles in the sample was analyzed. The sample was divided into 15 areas and a figure was drawn to show how the balls move in each area according to the displacements of the balls in each area. The displacements of asphalt mastic balls and coarse aggregates were also analyzed. The experimental results explain how the asphalt mixture bears vehicle load and the potential reasons why the rutting forms from a micro-mechanical view.

CALCULATION OF W-N GEAR DRIVES’RUNNING-IN PROCEDURE

A new calculating method of the running in procedure of W-N gear drives according to the criterion of frictional work consumed in meshing cycles is presented.Combining with the amount of clearances between two teeth flanks,the running-in procedure of W-N gear drives is reappeared more authentically. The erroneous conclusion that considering that the contact pressure uniformly distribute along the tooth depth after full running-in is corrected. So a foundation for the calculation of the contact pressure of W-N gear drives is provided.

Development and Experimental Evaluation of Strip Shape Prediction Model for Sendzimir Rolling Mills

It is difficult to obtain the desired strip shape using Sendzimir rolling mills because small diameter work rolls can be easily deformed by the roiling force. To control the strip shape effectively, it is important to understand the relationship between the behavior of the shape actuator and the variation of the strip shape. A numerical model based on the contact element method was proposed for the prediction of strip shape. In this numerical model, the re- lationships between the actuating forces, the roll deflections, the thickness profiles of the entry and exit sides, and the strip shape were considered. The proposed numerical model for strip shape prediction was evaluated by computer simulation and experiment with respect to various AS-U roll and first intermediate roll positions.

Thermal Stresses in a Cylinder Block Casting Due to Coupled Thermal and Mechanical Effects

Thermal stress in castings results from nonuniform cooling. The thermal stress and the deformation can change the casting and mold contact conditions which then alter the heat transfer between the casting and the mold. The contact element method was used to study the interaction between a sand mold and a casting. The contact status was then fed back to the heat transfer analysis between the sand mold and the casting to re-evaluate the heat transfer coefficient based on the gap size or pressure between surfaces. The thermal and mechanical phenomena are then coupled in two directions. The method was applied to analyze stress in a stress frame specimen casting and a cylinder block. The results are more accurate than without consideration of the contact effects on the heat transfer.

Liquid bridge force between two unequal-sized spheres or a sphere and a plane

Liquid bridge force acting between wet particles is an important property in particle characterization. This paper deals with liquid bridge force between either two unequal-sized spherical particles or a sphere and a flat plate under conditions where gravitational effect arising from bridge distortion is negligible. In order to calculate the force of the liquid bridge efficiently and accurately, expressions of liquid configuration and liquid bridge force were derived by building a mechanical model, which assumes the liquid bridge to be circular in shape between either two unequal-sized spheres or a sphere and a plane. To assess the accuracy of the numerical results of the calculated liquid bridge forces, they were compared to the nuhlished experimental data.

Analysis of asphalt mix surface-tread rubber interaction by using finite element method

The surface texture of the pavement plays a very important role in driving the frictional properties at the tire rubber-pavement interface. Particularly, the hysteretic friction due to viscoelastic deformations of rubber depends mainly on the pavement surface texture. In the present paper, the effect of micromechanical pavement surface morphology on rubber block friction was brought in by comparing the friction results for three different asphalt mix morphological surfaces, named stone mastic asphalt （SMA）, ultra-thin surfacing （UTS） and porous asphalt （PA）. The asphalt surface morphologies of these mixes were captured by using an X-ray tornographer, from which the resulting images micromechanical finite element （FE） meshes for SMA, UTS and PA pavements were developed by means of the SimpleWare software. In the FE model, the rubber and asphalt binder were modeled as viscoelastic （V-E） materials and the formulation was given in the large deformation frame- work. FE simulations were then carried out by using contact algorithm between rubber and the road surface. It was observed that the rubber friction inversely varies with the sliding speed and positively varies with the pressure for all the pavement morphological and stiffness conditions. Furthermore, it was observed that the highly porous pavement surface results in large dissipation of energy, hence, large rubber friction which shows that the mix characteristics of pavements have a simaificant effect on rubber friction.