Stress concentration in the components of a drive coupling

Abstract

Actuating couplings are used to transmit the torque between the ends of two shafts with or without coaxial deviations. The stress distribution and the stress concentration in a coupling loaded statically by a torque are presented in this paper. The calculation of the stress concentration coefficients in the dynamic stress regime of the machine parts is usually done with relations in whom the stress concentration coefficients in the static regime have a very important weight. For this reason, knowing the values of the stress concentration coefficients in static regime is absolutely necessary. The analysis was made using the finite element method. A calculus methodology is proposed establishing how the loads are applied and how the anti-symmetry of loading is taken into account when boundary conditions are imposed. The influence of the free space between the shaft and the sleeve on the stress field in these two parts is analysed thought the values of the stress concentration coefficient.