Title: Modelling and testing for design and durability of tapered bimetallic joints

Authors: D. Taylor, J. Pan

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2125, USA. Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2125, USA

Abstract: Tapered bimetallic joints are investigated with and without consideration of assembly stresses. First, an aluminium disk specimen with a steel tapered stud is designed to represent a typical tapered steel stud and aluminium knuckle assembly. The steel stud and the aluminium disk are assembled together by interference fit. A two-dimensional plane stress finite element model is developed to investigate the interaction between the steel stud and aluminium disk, with and without an interference fit, under the cyclic loads applied to the stud. A three-dimensional finite element model is developed to more fully understand the three-dimensional nature of the interaction between the steel stud and aluminium disk, with and without an interference fit, under the loads applied to the ball portion of the stud. The effects of the assembly stresses on the distributions of stresses and strains in the aluminium disk due to the applied loads are investigated. The computational results show that the assembly stresses can significantly affect the stress and strain histories and the distributions of the stresses and strains near the bi-material interface under the applied load.

Keywords: aluminium knuckle; durability; fatigue; interference fit; tapered stud.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2001.001273

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2001 Vol.16 No.4/5, pp.430-445

Published online: 01 Jul 2003 *

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