Title: Interference fitted assemblies: a failure analysis

Authors: Irappa Sogalad, N.G. Subramanya Udupa

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University BDT College of Engineering, Davangere 577 004, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nagarjuna College of Engineering and Technology, Bangalore 562 110, India

Abstract: This paper describes the details of failure analysis of interference fitted assemblies. The assemblies were tested for their strength and noise generated during failure was recorded using a computer aided data acquisition system. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis was carried out to analyse the failure sound of assemblies using MATLAB. The results reveal that assemblies with lower interference produced less sound than the assemblies with higher interference during failure. Hence, where interference fit plays a critical role in mechanical assemblies, it is safer to mount a sensing device close to the assembly to detect the failure of assemblies. When the noise generated is beyond the safe limit, corrective action must be taken to detect the failure and initiate remedial measures, so that the accidents due to failure of interference fitted assemblies are eliminated.

Keywords: interference fits; load-bearing ability; FFT analysis; failure analysis; interference fitted assemblies; fast Fourier transform; mechanical assemblies; failure sound.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMS.2009.024355

International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems, 2009 Vol.2 No.1/2, pp.187 - 199

Published online: 01 Apr 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article