A numerical study on rotational stiffness characteristics of the disk lock joint

Abstract

Rotational stiffness characteristics of the disk lock joint have a significant effect on the load bearing capacity and stability of disk lock scaffolds. However, experimental researches on scaffold joints are usually expensive and time consuming, especially when different joint connection configurations and loading modes are involved. This paper explores the feasibility and effectiveness of the 3D nonlinear finite element analysis method for studying the rotational stiffness characteristics of the disk lock joint. Detailed geometric models of the disk lock joints are established and the geometric models are meshed with finite elements. The elastoplastic constitutive model based on the isotropic hardening law and the associated flow rule is used to describe the complete deformation process of the material, and the penalty stiffness method is applied to accurately simulate the interaction between different components. Thus the complete finite element models of the disk lock joints are established. Firstly, the loading processes of the one-way disk lock joint are simulated and verified by experiments. To further demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the finite element method, the loading processes of disk lock joints under different connection configurations and loading modes are simulated. The influences of connection configurations and loading modes on joint rotational stiffness are also investigated to reveal the load bearing mechanism of the disk lock joint, and thereby contribute to better predictions of the load bearing capacity of the disk lock scaffolds.