Chain plate design finite element analysis

摘要

Precision multiple roller power transmission chain plates are investigated in this work. These chains transfer significant power and move with high velocity. They are subjected to variable loading with strong vibration and impact components. Because of these severe working conditions, chain life is limited by the fatigue-strength, and the chain plates are the weakest elements in many cases. It is shown that fatigue-life is significantly reduced by fretting action, stress concentration in the plates, and lack of maintaining a uniform force distribution across the multiplelines of a chain. ANSYS software for finite element methods was used as a numerical technique for obtaining approximate solutions for stress distributions in the plates. The plates investigated had a variety of eccentricities and stress reducers located in different areas. The results of the stress analysis were used to calculate fatigue-lives for different plate geometries.