A Set-valued Impact Law Approach for Modeling and Analysis of Rigid Contact Universal Joint with Clearance

TL;DR

This paper develops a comprehensive dynamic model of a universal joint with radial clearance, incorporating impact laws and friction to accurately capture complex non-smooth behaviors like impacts and chaos, crucial for advanced engineering applications.

Contribution

It introduces a set-valued impact law model that accounts for inertia and friction effects neglected in prior models, enhancing the understanding of U-Joint dynamics with clearance.

Findings

Clearance significantly affects U-Joint dynamics, causing impacts and chaos.

The model captures impact-induced oscillations and quasi-periodic motions.

Simulation results highlight the importance for driveline design and control.

Abstract

This study presents a dynamic model of a universal joint (U-Joint) with radial clearance, focusing on the rigid unilateral frictional contacts at the crosspiece and yoke interfaces. Unlike previous models that neglect crosspiece inertia and interface friction, this work incorporates these effects using a set-valued impact law based on Signorini's condition with Coulomb friction, capturing the complex non-smooth dynamics introduced by radial clearance. Numerical simulations of a 2 degrees-of-freedom (DOF) shaft system reveal the critical influence of clearance on U-Joint dynamic behavior, including impact-induced oscillations, quasi-periodic motion, and chaotic dynamics, which are essential for accurate driveline modeling and real-time control in automotive, aerospace, and precision medical applications.