Contact stresses within a split ring inserted into a circular housing

Abstract

The contact problem between a split ring and a circular housing is mechanically examined. This contact is revisited in terms of receding contact, the zones along which the ring beds over the housing are investigated, and normalizing design parameters are evidenced. The split ring is modelled in terms of a straight, purely flexural beam as well as of a curved, shear-elastic beam; for both models, analytical solutions are obtained. Various easy accessible design diagrams, useful for estimating the maximum elastic stresses within the split ring and the axial insertion force, have been prepared with the aid of these two beam models and using finite elements. The mechanical response of the split ring when its angular width is appreciably lower than π is clarified.