Optimisation of crack groove depth of QT450 rear axles' main reducer shell bearing seats based on numerical analysis

Abstract

This paper studies the fracture splitting of shell bearing seat, and determines the optimised range for prefabricated crack groove depth. Firstly, crack initiation during the fracture splitting process of shell bearing seat is numerically simulated. Secondly, the fracture-split force of different crack groove depths is determined. Finally, plastic deformation and out-of-roundness of the shell bearing seat at different crack groove depths are investigated. The results show that the crack initiation point of the reducer shell bearing seat is located near the middle of the crack tip and the position is slightly closer to the flat end face side. Plastic areas with different crack groove depths produced at the root of the crack tip are butterfly-shaped distribution and the out-of-roundness of bearing hole is small. This shows that fracture-splitting technology is suitable for shell bearing seat. The result provides rationality for the design of reducer shell bearing seat cracking equipment and prefabricated crack groove parameters. [Submitted 7 November 2018; Accepted 27 July 2019]