On shrink fit analysis and design

Shrink fit or interference fit is an important connection in a number of mechanical parts. In contrast to the importance, the number of three dimensional finite element analyses of this contact problem is not large, because contact between two or more bodies in general is a particularly difficult non-linear behaviour to analyze. In the present paper we show how relatively simple axisymmetric analysis is possible, and we describe two different points-of-view. Classical plane analysis is evaluated and the design of shrink fit surfaces is included. The first method determines the shape of a shrink fit surface that will result in a prescribed distribution of contact pressure due to the shrink fit. The second method uses a super element technique, and determine without iteration and incrementation the distribution of contact pressure that will result from a prescribed shrink fit interference. Simplicity is our goal, so specific linear elastic shrink fits without friction are treated, but a number of extensions are possible.