A New Finite Element Analysis Model to Estimate Contact Stress in Ball Screw

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors studied the deformation of ball screw and proposed a new methodology that could observe the stress change of the internal contact components of the ball screw by applying both the theoretical method and the FEA. The method is described in detail and the presented results are of good scientific soundness. I would recommend it for publication in Applied Sciences if my following comments can be addressed:

1. Please improve the introduction to arouse interests of a broader audience.

2. Please mention or refer to the nomenclature table when introducing the equations in part 2.2 theoretical study of ball screw.

3. It's hard to read the zoomed images in Fig. 8. Why they have different mechanical shape?

4. Since the FEA model requires input from theoretical analysis, this method will not be very practical for real applications. Could the authors comment on this?

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

The authors have presented a numerical study on the contact stress of the ball screw.

The topic falls within the scope of the target journal. The theoretical analysis and numerical simulations are both performed.

There are still some questions to be considered.

1. I’m missed that what is the subject to analyze. Is it the ball or the screw? They are different things.
2. What is the meaning of “axial load”? Is this case the same as that in engineering?
3. In Section 2, “con-tact” is not proper.
4. After each equation, there should be “,” or “.”.
5. In Fig. 2, we find that the load is a point load. However, in reality, it must be the distributed load.
6. What is the relation between the Hertz model and the latter numerical simulation?
7. The citation of reference must be “used [13, 17, 19]”. Please check them.
8. What is the meaning of “curvature parameter” in Table 1?
9. The authors have declared that they proposed “a new methodology”. I do not think this is a “new” method. Please consider this issue.
10. Please check the format of the references. See Ref. 8.

Author Response

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Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The paper has not been carefully revised. Please reconsider the previous comments in the first review.

Author Response

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Round 3

Reviewer 2 Report

After each equation, there should be “,” or “.”.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx