Analysis of Contact Deformations in Support Systems Using Roller Prisms

This article presents the results of finite element analyses of the influence of reaction forces on stresses and strains at the contact points of the rollers of prism supports with cylindrical surfaces of the main journals of large-sized crankshafts. The analyses of strains and stresses, as well as the depth of their occurrences, in the case of the shaft journal and support rollers were carried out using Hertz contact theory and the finite element method. These calculation results proved to be highly consistent. Additionally, they provide a basis for stating that, in the case under consideration, permanent deformations do not significantly affect the values of the measured geometrical deviations nor the profile forms of the supported main crankshaft journals.