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Virginia Tech

A Finite Element Study of Stresses in Stepped Splined Shafts, and Partially Splined Shafts Under Bending, Torsion, and Combined Loadings

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The maximum von Mises stress is calculated for solid finite element models of splined shafts with straight-sided teeth. One spline shaft is stepped with larger diameter section containing spline teeth and the smaller diameter section circular and cylindrical with no spline teeth. A second shaft is not stepped, but contains incomplete spline teeth. Finite element analyses are performed for the cases of a stepped shaft of three different step size ratios (d/D). The second set of models consists of a solid cylindrical shaft with incomplete spline teeth. The incomplete regions of the spline teeth are modeled in three radii (R). Bending, torsion, and combined loads are applied to each model, including several combinations of bending and torsion between pure bending and pure torsion. Finite element stress results are converged to within 2% for verification. The stresses in the stepped splined shafts are up to 50% greater than nominal stresses in the non-splined section and up to 88% greater than nominal stresses splined section. Stresses in the partially splined shaft showed little or no correlation between the hob radius and the magnitude of the peak von Mises stress, but show a strong correlation between the peak stress and the proportion of bending to torsion. The peak von Mises stress occurs when the applied load consists of greater proportions of torsion as opposed to bending. Stresses in the partially splined shaft are up to 42% greater than the well-developed nominal stress in the non-splined section of the shaft, and up to 7% greater than the nominal stresses in the splined section.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mechanical Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Mechanical Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
1999

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Baker, Donald Alexander
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Mitchiner, Reginald G.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • West, Robert L. Jr.
  • Knight, Charles E.

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-11092000-18320023
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/35637

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Baker, Donald Alexander. A Finite Element Study of Stresses in Stepped Splined Shafts, and Partially Splined Shafts Under Bending, Torsion, and Combined Loadings. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/35637