Method for calculation of contact resistance and finite element simulation of contact temperature rise based on rough surface contact model

Author(s):  
Wang Shujuan ◽  
Hu Fang ◽  
Su Bonan ◽  
Zhai Guofu
2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Santosh V. Angadi ◽  
Robert L. Jackson ◽  
Song-yul Choe ◽  
George T. Flowers ◽  
Bong-Yi Lee ◽  
...  

Electrical contacts influence the reliability and performance of relays, electrical connectors, high power connectors, and similar systems, and are therefore a key region which needs to be considered. In the current study, a new inclusive multiphysics (involving mechanical, electrical, and thermal fields) finite element model (FEM) of a 35A automotive connector has been developed. The contact resistance is predicted using a multiscale rough surface contact method and is embedded in the multiphysics FEM. The coupled connector model is solved to obtain stresses, displacements, contact pressures, electrical and thermal contact resistances, voltage, current density, and temperature distributions. It appears that the current flows mostly through very small regions that are usually near the contacting surfaces in the connector, thereby suggesting that the available conducting material can be more efficiently used by developing optimized connector designs. Through analytical calculations and experimental measurements of temperature rise (ΔT or change in temperature) for the cable and the connector, it is believed that a large portion of the temperature rise in actual 35A connectors is due to the Joule heating in the supply cables. The model is a powerful tool that can be used for the basic connector characterization, prototype evaluation, and design through various material properties, and surface finishes.


2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshimichi Fukuoka ◽  
Quantuo Xu

The tightening operation with a bolt heater has advantages surpassing those of other tightening methods. Currently, a bolt heater is mainly applied to tighten huge bolts that cannot be clamped by other means, and the tightening operation is usually supported by the expertise of skilled workers. In this paper, a numerical approach is presented to aim at a broader use of bolt heater technique by elucidating the tightening mechanism. The effects of thermal contact resistance existing around a bolted joint are taken into account for a better accuracy in the numerical analyses. Based on the numerical results obtained, a series guideline to help the tightening operation when performed by less skilled workers is proposed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Varney ◽  
Itzhak Green

Rotating machines and associated triboelements are ubiquitous in industrial society, playing a central role in power generation, transportation, and manufacturing. Unfortunately, these systems are susceptible to undesirable contact (i.e., rub) between the rotor and stator, which is both costly and dangerous. These adverse effects can be alleviated by properly applying accurate real-time diagnostics. The first step toward accurate diagnostics is developing rotor–stator rub models which appropriately emulate reality. Previous rotor–stator rub models disavow the contact physics by reducing the problem to a single esoteric linear contact stiffness occurring only at the point of maximum rotor radial deflection. Further, the contact stiffness is typically chosen arbitrarily, and as such provides no additional insight into the contacting surfaces. Here, a novel rotor–stator rub model is developed by treating the strongly conformal curved surfaces according to their actual nature: a collection of stochastically distributed asperities. Such an approach is advantageous in that it relies on real surface measurements to quantify the contact force rather than a heuristic choice of linear contact stiffness. Specifically, the elastoplastic Jackson–Green (JG) rough surface contact model is used to obtain the quasistatic contact force versus rotor radial deflection; differences and similarities in contact force between the linear elastic contact model (LECM) and JG model are discussed. Furthermore, the linear elastic model's point contact assumption is assessed and found to be inaccurate for systems with small clearances. Finally, to aid in computational efficiency in future rotordynamic simulation, a simple exponential curve fit is proposed to approximate the JG force–displacement relationship.


Author(s):  
Feng Zhang ◽  
Arif S Malik

Abstract In thin-gauge cold rolling of metal sheet, the surface roughness of work-rolls is known to affect the rolled sheet surface morphology, the required rolling load, and the roll wear. While modeling of rough surfaces using statistical asperity theory has been widely applied to problems involving semi-infinite solids, the application of asperity distributions and their elastic-plastic behavior has not been considered in roll-stack models for cold sheet rolling. In this work, a simplified-mixed finite element method (SM-FEM) is combined with statistical elastic-plastic asperity theory to study contact interference and coupling effects between a rough work-roll surface and the roll-stack mechanics in cold sheet rolling. By mixing equivalent rough-surface contact foundations, Hertz foundations, and Timoshenko beam stiffness, an approach is created to efficiently model interactions between the micro-scale asperities and the macro-scale roll-stack deformation. Nonlinearities from elastic-plastic material behavior of the asperities and the sheet, as well as changing contact conditions along the roll length, are also accommodated. Performance of the multi-scale SM-FEM approach is made by comparison to a continuum finite element virtual material model. 3D studies for a 4-high mill reveal new multi-scale coupling behaviors, including non-uniform roughness transfer, and perturbations to the sheet thickness ‘crown’ and contact force profiles. The described multi-scale SM-FEM approach is general and applies to rough surface contact problems involving plates and shear-deformable beams having multiple contact interfaces and arbitrary surface profiles.


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