Urdea MIHAELA

STATIC ANALYSIS FOR HARDY COUPLING

Abstract: Couplings are machine parts for transmitting rotational movement and torque without changing
the law of movement. Couplings have a great variety of constructive shapes; this paper refers to elastic
couplings especially to Hardy couplings. The main goal of this work is to generate a finite element model
for a Hardy coupling. In order to prepare the model for analysis with finite element, the coupling has been
modeled in CATIA, especially for this activity. The analysis model should have the same behavior as in
reality, so the contact with shafts and keyways is replaced with rigid elements.
Key words: CATIA, finite element, elastic shaft coupling, Hardy coupling.

1. INTRODUCTION
Couplings are important connecting subsystems used
for transmitting power (rotation or torque) between two
shafts belonging to different subsystems. The main
feature of the coupling depends on their most important
function, namely the value of the transmitted torque.
Couplings are used in construction machinery and the
great diversity of structural forms has led to different
classification criteria.
Mechanical couplings are classified as permanent and
intermittent couplings. Permanent coupling are divided
into fixed or mobile coupling and the mobile coupling
can have rigid or elastic intermediate elements.
Many mechanical couplings contain elastic active
elements to obtain torsional characteristics imposed by
the functional requirements or to obtain increased
torsional rigidity [1,2].
A rigid coupling is a unit of hardware used to join
two shafts within a motor or mechanical system. It may
be used to connect two separate systems, such as a motor
and a generator, or to repair a connection within a single
system.
A rigid coupling may also be added between shafts to
reduce shock and wear at the point where the shafts meet.
Rigid couplings are used when precise shaft alignment is
required; shaft misalignment will affect the coupling's
performance as well as its life [2].
2. ELASTIC COUPLING
Elastic couplings are composed of two identical
coupling components when bolts are mounted
alternatively or different if the bolts are mounted only on
one coupling. In both variants the possibility of
deformation of the elastic element must be ensured.
Flexible couplings with rubber blocks or claws are
named Holset. Between the radial claws of the two
coupling parts are mounted prism-shaped rubber blocks,
requested during the torque transmission, to
compression.
Elastic couplings with rubber plates are named Eflex
or Hadeflex. Rubber plates are tensioned to bending and
shearing;

Flexible couplings with rubber balls are named

S_Elastik. Rubber balls are tensioned to compression;
Coupling with bolts and flexible disc is named
Hardy. Hardy coupling has two coupling parts, linked by
an elastic disc, using bolts alternately connected (Fig.1
a);
Rotex is an elastic coupling with elastic element,
named spiders, in a star shape. Rotex couplings are
characterized by small dimensions, low weight and low
mass moments of inertia, and transmit high torques (Fig.
1 b);
Periflex shaft couplings with rubber tire have a high
elasticity. Periflex shaft coupling links two shafts in
diesel-engine and electric drives. They are simple from
the point of view of construction, are easily mounted and
dismounted (Fig.1 c, d);
Radaflex couplings, similar to Periflex couplings,
allow takeover the deviations of radial, axial and angular
of the shafts of up to 4 mm;
Vibrastop coupling is characterized by a voluminous
elastic element and allows a large loading capacity.
Vibrostop is a flexible coupling with a big rubber
element. He has a high load capacity and he has a
uniform distribution of torsional stresses on the entire
elastic material (Fig.1 e).
Aflex couplings have a high elastic deformation
capacity; allow relative torsional angles up to 60o. They
have a great capacity to compensate the coupled shaft
deviations;
Vulkan coupling similar to Periflex coupling has a
rubber bandage, sectioned in order to reduce the cost of
execution. This rubber bandage are mounted in parallel,
the centrifugal forces are taken over by the upper
clamping area. The torque is uniformly distributed on the
two rubber bandages (Fig. 1 f) [1,3].

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Static Analysis For Hardy Coupling

longitudinal axis of each coupling part, there are
generated 2 points associated to the master node of rigid
elements [3].
Figure 3 presents the Hardy coupling modeled in
CATIA without bolts. It is observed the two pairs of
points defined on each semi-coupling part.
d

e
Fig. 1 Elastic couplings

3. HARDY COUPLING
Hardy is an elastic coupling with bolts and elastic
disc characterized by torsional rigidity and elasticity in
bending. To increase the bearing capacity, metal
reinforcements are used in direct contact with an elastic
disc.
Hardy couplings are mainly designed for flexible
connection of engine shafts and powered machines [1].
The elastic member is made of rubber, this ensuring high
elasticity, increased damping capacity, simple
technology, lower costs. The connection between the
elastic element component and the semi-couplings is
done through assemblies with bolts [4]. The torque is
transmitted from the main semi-coupling by six bolts, to
the driven semi-coupling.
Figure below presents a Hardy coupling modelled in
CATIA, with all components in Explode view (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Hardy coupling components

4. ASSEMBLY PREPARED FOR ANALYSIS

CATIA Analysis is an integral part of CATIA. The
analysis specifications are an extension of the part and
assembly design specifications, and the analysis is
performed directly on the CATIA geometry.
For static analysis with finite element, the material
components, is very important. In order for material
components Library Material Catalog has been used,
namely steel for 4 components: semi-couplings and two
metal reinforcements and rubber material for nonmetallic components.
For assembling, each component should receive
geometrical constraints, namely axis coincident for all
components, flat contact surfaces between all pairs of
pieces.
The analysis model should have the same behavior as
in reality, so the contact with shafts and keyways is
replaced with rigid elements which anchor the axis with
cylindrical surface of the shaft. For this purpose, on the
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Fig. 3 Points for rigid elements

5. THE ANALYSIS WITH FINIT ELEMENTS

The main goal of this paper is to present the finite
element analysis for a Hardy coupling using the
Generative Structural Analysis from CATIA software
package. The scope is to identify the zones with high
stress and their value.
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a numerical tool
used to simulate the physical system. In this method the
modeled system is broken into smaller geometric shapes,
called finite elements, whose behavior can be described
mathematically [5].
Meshing is an essential pre-processing step in Finite
Element Analysis. The final solution always depends on
the quality of the mesh used during computation.
OCTREE Tetrahedron Mesh, to mesh wireframes,
surfaces and to set the size of the mesh, is used. Figure 4
presents the sizes for rubber part, one can observed that
the element type is Linear. The global mesh parameters
are: Size: size of the mesh elements, Absolute sag:
Maximal gap between the mesh and the geometry and
Element type: the type of element (Size = 6.012 mm,
Absolute sag = 0.962 mm).

Fig. 4 OCTREE Tetrahedron Mesh for rubber part

Because the model should have the same behavior as

in reality an important step is to define the rigid parts of
the semi-couplings, the restraints and the moments. For
this purpose virtual rigid components for simulating the
existence of related parts are used, in this case for shafts
and keyways. A Rigid Virtual Part is a rigid body

Static Analysis For Hardy Coupling

connected to a specified point, the point selected as
handler must be a Part Design point.
For defining all four rigid parts elements one can use
Rigid virtual part command corresponding to the
defined points (handler) for every semi-coupling. The
first rigid virtual part refers to the semi-coupling hole;
the second is related to the lateral surface of keyway
(Fig. 5).

The coupling assembly has Coincidence and Contact

constrains and it is considered that there isnt any sliding
between the rubber and steel parts in contact.
The constraints types Coincidence, in the bolts area,
were converted into Rigid Connection Mesh and the
constraints type Surface Contacts were converted into
Contact Connection Mesh. In this situation the model can
be analyzed with Compute section Mesh Only, for
identifying the first error and for viewing the mesh
model. It results the figure below (Fig. 8).

Fig. 5 The four rigid parts

The virtual rigid components are defined as follows

(Fig. 6):
- for main semi-coupling a pivot to the inner cylindrical
surface (hole);
- for driven semi-coupling a sliding pivot to the inner
cylindrical surface (hole).

Fig. 8 The constraints

An important step is to check the model with Model

Checker command, stage to get information about the
correctness of the created model. In this case the green
light is on and accompanied by a message confirming the
correctness of the model (Fig. 9).

Fig. 6 The virtual rigid components

The basic stress consists of a torque applied to the

main semi-coupling, through the parallel keyway
assembly. One can use a virtual rigid element that
simulates a keyway assembly activated by a torque of
100 Nm. Figure 7 presents the moments corresponding to
both semi-coupling components.

Fig. 7 The loads

Fig. 9 The Model Checker

Once these parameters are defined, solving the model

is done automatically by the software. The Compute/All
command calculates the unknown parameters. In the
Static case analysis result Deformation, Von Mises
stress, Principal stress, Displacements and Precision
(Fig. 10).

Fig. 10The Static Case model tree

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Static Analysis For Hardy Coupling

Figure 11 presents the Von Mises stress, viewed with
Render Style/Shading with Material. Von Mises stress is
a combination of all primary and principal stresses.

Fig. 14 Principal stress

6. CONCLUSIONS
Fig. 11 Von Mises results viewed with Render Style/Shading

It can observe from the values palette, which

correspond to the Von Mises stress, that the maximum
tension, in the bolt area, has the value of 13.5 MPa (Fig.
11). The axial section facilitates the visualization of
tensioned area (Fig. 12).

From finite element analysis is highlighted that the

assembly is a rigid structure with the maximum
equivalent stress in the bolts area. The maximum Von
Mises equivalent stress in this area is 13.5 MPa.
The admissible bending resistance of bolts material
(steel) is ai=100 ... 120 MPa. This confirms the
resistance of the bolts to the coupling stress.
The Button Animate displays the animation of the
coupling. The displacement pattern illustrates a better
visualization and understanding.
REFERENCES

Fig. 12 Von Mises in axial section

From the analysis of displacement and stress field is

highlighted that assembly studied is a rigid structure with
a reduced maximum displacement (Fig 13).

[1] Draghici, I., Achiriloaie, I., (1978), Calculul i

construcia cuplajelor, Publisher Editura Tehnic
Bucureti, Romania.
[2] Urdea, M., (2007), Database organizing for an
elastic coupling, modeled in SolidWorks. Proceedings
of Academic Journal of Manufacturing Engineering,
Ed. Politehnica University of Timioara, Vol 1, pp.
70-76, ISSN 1583-777904, June, 2007, Timisoara.
[3] Mogan, Gh., L,. Butnariu S., L., (2007), Analiza cu
elemente finite in inginerie. Aplicaii practice in
CATIA. Publisher Transilvania University of Braov,
ISBN 978-973-598-159-4, Braov, Romania.
[4] Lates., M., T., Analiza static a unui cuplaj elastic cu
element elastic nemetalic available at:
http://webbut.unitbv.ro/Carti%20on-line/LATES/
MEF/MEF9.pdf. Accessed: 2014-02-15.
[5] Woyand H., B., Grid generation and analysis using
CATIA v5 available at: http://mbi-wiki.uniwuppertal.de/wp-content/uploads/ 2011 /06 / Gridgeneration-andanalysisusing-Catia-V5.pdf.
Accessed: 2014-03-10.
[6]CATIA V5 Stress Analysis, available at:
http://www.cadcamlab.org/course/images/
Example_Manuals_2006/Stress%20Analysis%20R14.
pdf. Accessed: 2014-04-14.

Fig. 13 Translational displacement (max 0,00223 mm)

Author:
With Principal stresses the model is represented by
principal stress tensor symbol, it observed that maximum
stress is located in the bolt area (Fig. 14). The principal
stress tensor presents the directions in which the model is
in a pure state of tension or compression [6].

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VOLUME 9 ISSUE 1 JULY 2014

Assos. Prof. Urdea MIHAELA, Transilvania University

of Braov, Department of Manufacturing Engineering,
Romania.
E-mail:
urdeam@unitbv.ro,
tel.
004723464055.