Analytical prediction of contact stiffness and friction damping in bolted connection

This paper presents an analytical method to predict contact stiffness and friction damping in bolted connections. Despite its importance in machine design, analytical prediction of the contact parameters has not been realized because of difficulty in time-history nonlinear analysis of sticking/sliding contact. In this study, a torsional contact model around a connecting bolt is developed. Linear phenomena are extracted and solved by FEM analysis, and then linear combination of the FEM results is calculated iteratively to search sticking/sliding zones in torque equilibrium. Proposed model is experimentally validated, and it will lead to fully analytical modelling of practical machines.