Comparison of Torque Transmitting Shaft Connectivity Using a Trilobe Polygon Connection and an Involute Spline

Abstract

The results of a finite element analysis of a trilobe polygon shaft connection used as an alternative for a spline for torque transmission is presented. These results are compared to the results of a finite element analysis previously performed on an involute spline. It is shown that the tensile stress in the polygon shaft is significantly smaller than in the involute spline and is smaller than all the other stresses in both the shaft and the hub in the polygon connection. Furthermore, the magnitudes and distributions of the maximum principal compressive stress, the shear stress, and the Von Mises stress are nearly the same on the shaft and the hub. It appears that polygonal connections can be more advantageous than splined connections because of lower stresses and the lack of stress concentrations typical of splines. [S1050-0472(00)00601-2]