A multi-scale stiffness fractal model of joint interfaces

Abstract

Stiffness characterization of mechanical interfaces is quite crucial for the analysis of several tribological behaviors. The stiffness of different machine tools varies greatly, particularly for computer numerical control machine. Therefore, this research aims at providing an assessment of influence factors for stiffness of joint interfaces theoretically. Based on fractal roughness parameters independent of scale and contact mechanics theory, the contact area of joint interface is studied, and the multi-scale normal contact stiffness model and multi-scale tangential contact stiffness model are proposed. Meanwhile, the problem of the deformation of any contact asperity is considered as three separate regimes. The laws of area-displacement and force-displacement under elastic-plastic regime are established. The transition which is in the deformation mechanism of asperity from elastic to plastic is consistent with classical contact mechanics. The analysis of numerical calculation results indicates the approximate linear relation among dimensionless normal load and key parameters. Moreover, these key parameters have been divided into two main categories for the multiscale model of joint interfaces, one is fractal parameters such as fractal dimension D and fractal roughness parameter G, and the other is interfacial parameters. In addition, tangential load and friction factor are two important factors to the tangential stiffness.