A Joint Surface Contact Stiffness Model Considering Micro-Asperity Interaction

Mechanical joint interfaces are widely found in mechanical equipment, and their contact stiffness directly affects the overall performance of the mechanical system. Based on the fractal and elastoplastic contact mechanics theories, the K-E elastoplastic contact model is introduced to establish the contact stiffness model for mechanical joint interfaces. This model considers the interaction effects between micro-asperities in the fully deformed state, including elasticity, first elastoplasticity, second elastoplasticity, and complete plastic deformation state. Based on this model, the effects of fractal parameters on normal contact stiffness and contact load are analyzed. It can be found that the larger fractal dimension D or smaller characteristic scale coefficient G will weaken the interaction between micro-asperities. The smoother processing surfaces lead to higher contact stiffness in mechanical joint interfaces. The applicability and effectiveness of the proposed model are verified by comparing it with the traditional contact model calculation results. Under the same load, the interaction between micro-rough surfaces leads to an increase in both overall deformation and contact stiffness. The accuracy of the predicted contact stiffness model is also validated by comparing it with experimental results.