When conducting finite element analysis on the robots the accuracy of the component modelling and definitions of the boundary conditions becomes more important. One such component is the ball bearing which consist of several parts and has a nonlinear behavior where the balls are in contact with the rings.
The task given was to develop new methods to model roller bearings in Siemens finite element modelling software NX Nastran. Then conduct a strain measurement, to compare the methods to real experimental values. The goal with the report is to find one or more methods to model roller bearings, with accurate results, that can be used in their development work.
Simulations were done on the models with different load cases and the results were compared to a strain measurement of the wrists real counterpart. Only six of the models were analyzed in the result, since four of the models returned results that were deemed unusable.
When compiling the result data no model was found to accurately recreate the stresses in every load case. Three methods, that allow deformation, performed similarly. One of them is suggested to be used as modelling method in the future. Worst of the methods, according to the results compiled, was found to be the method used today.
It fails to describe local stresses around the bearing. For continued work it is suggested that linear contact elements is studied further. Four out of five models constructed with linear contact elements failed to return satisfactory results.
Source: Uppsala University
Author: Adolfsson, Erik