Improving method of the strength for adhesive shaft joints.

Abstract

Strength of shaft joints connected with adhesive coupling was investigated analytically and experimentally. To improve the strength, a method to use tapered coupling was proposed. The effects of tapered length and thickness of coupling on the stress distributions of shafts, coupling, adhesive layers and their interfaces were investigated by using the finite element method. The strength of the joints bonded with epoxy resin was predicted by applying the strength laws of shaft, coupling, adhesive layer and their interfaces to the calculated stress distributions. The predicted strength of the shaft joints under combined loads was in good agreement with experimental results. The effect of the tapered coupling on the strength of adhesive bonded shaft were more remarkable for torsional load than for tensile load. The torsional strength of jointed shaft with the optimal tapered coupling was comparable to the shaft strength.