Nick Weinzapfel

Bio: Nick Weinzapfel is an academic researcher from Schaeffler Group. The author has contributed to research in topics: Shear stress & Damage mechanics. The author has an hindex of 12, co-authored 16 publications receiving 427 citations. Previous affiliations of Nick Weinzapfel include Purdue University.

A Discrete Element Approach for Modeling Cage Flexibility in Ball Bearing Dynamics Simulations

Abstract: A model for deep-groove and angular-contact ball bearings was developed to investigate the influence of a flexible cage on bearing dynamics. The cage model introduces flexibility by representing the cage as an ensemble of discrete elements that allow deformation of the fibers connecting the elements. A finite element model of the cage was developed to establish the relationships between the nominal cage properties and those used in the flexible discrete element model. In this investigation, the raceways and balls have six degrees of freedom. The discrete elements comprising the cage each have three degrees of freedom in a cage reference frame. The cage reference frame has five degrees of freedom, enabling three-dimensional motion of the cage ensemble. Newton's laws are used to determine the accelerations of the bearing components, and a fourth-order Runge-Kutta algorithm with constant step size is used to integrate their equations of motion. Comparing results from the dynamic bearing model with flexible and rigid cages reveals the effects of cage flexibility on bearing performance. The cage experiences nearly the same motion and angular velocity in the loading conditions investigated regardless of the cage type. However, a significant reduction in ball-cage pocket forces occurs as a result of modeling the cage as a flexible body. Inclusion of cage flexibility in the model also reduces the time required for the bearing to reach steady-state operation.

An Approach for Modeling Material Grain Structure in Investigations of Hertzian Subsurface Stresses and Rolling Contact Fatigue

Abstract: The continuum theory of elasticity and/or homogeneously discretized finite element models have been commonly used to investigate and analyze subsurface stresses in Hertzian contacts. These approaches, however, do not effectively capture the influence of the random microstructure topology on subsurface stress distributions in Hertzian contacts. In this paper, a finite element model for analyzing subsurface stresses in an elastic half-space subjected to a general Hertzian contact load with explicit consideration of the material microstructure topology is presented. The random internal geometry of polycrystalline microstructures is modeled using a 3D Voronoi tessellation, where each Voronoi cell represents a distinct material grain. The grains are then meshed using finite elements, and an algorithm was developed to eliminate poorly shaped elements resulting from “near degeneracy” in the Voronoi tessellations. Hertzian point and line contacts loads are applied as distributed surface loads, and the model’s response is evaluated with commercial finite element software ABAQUS . Internal stress results obtained from the current model compare well with analytical solutions from theory of elasticity. The influence of the internal microstructure topology on the subsurface stresses is demonstrated by analyzing the model’s response to an over rolling element using a critical plane approach.

An Improved Approach for 3D Rolling Contact Fatigue Simulations with Microstructure Topology

Abstract: Several 2D and 3D numerical models have been developed to investigate rolling contact fatigue (RCF) by employing a continuum damage mechanics approach coupled with an explicit representation of microstructure topology. However, the previous 3D models require significant computational effort compared to 2D models. This work presents a new approach wherein efficient computational strategies are implemented to accelerate the 3D RCF simulation. In order to reduce computational time, only the volume that is critically stressed during a rolling pass is modeled with an explicit representation of microstructure topology. Furthermore, discontinuities in the subsurface stress calculation in the previously developed models for line and circular contact loading are removed. Additionally, by incorporating a new integration algorithm for damage growth, the fatigue damage simulations under line contact are accelerated by a factor of nearly 13. The variation in fatigue lives and progression of simulated fatigue spalling ...

An updated review: white etching cracks (WECs) and axial cracks in wind turbine gearbox bearings

Abstract: The actual service life of wind turbine gearboxes is often well below the desired 20 years. One of the prevalent failure modes in gearbox bearing raceways is white structure flaking (WSF) in as little as 6–24 months of operation by the formation of axial cracks and white etching cracks (WECs) with associated microstructural change called white etching areas (WEAs). Despite these failures having been observed for two decades in various industries, the drivers and mechanisms for their formation are still highly contested. Discussed in this review are methods for searching and analysing WECs, mechanisms for WEA microstructural change, WEC initiation and propagation theories, WSF formation drivers and finally technologies and processes offering resistance to WSF. This updated review serves as a recap, comprehensive update on findings, current focus areas and remaining challenges.This paper is part of a Themed Issue on Recent developments in bearing steels.

Spatial tessellations. Concepts and Applications of Voronoi diagrams

Abstract: Definitions and basic properties of the Voronoi diagram generalizations of the Voronoi diagram algorithms for computing Voronoi diagrams poisson Voronoi diagrams spatial interpolation models of spatial processes point pattern analysis locational optimization through Voronoi diagrams.