The use of computational contact mechanics approaches to assess the performance of parts bearing stress concentrators

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to build new computational schemes for assessing the strength parameters of parts with inhomogeneous properties of surface layers in the presence of stress concentrators. Design/methodology/approach: Using the developed approaches of mathematical modeling and open software for calculating the structures of the FEM - FEniCS, the required thickness of the hardened zones of parts has been established, which ensures their minimum softening during operation, depending on the characteristics of the stress concentrator. Findings: It is shown that for each size of the surface stress concentrator there is a critical value of the hardening thickness, the excess of which does not affect the operational strength of the parts, but increases the cost of technological operations. Research limitations/implications: In this article proposes a method for calculating the influence of the dimensional characteristics of hardening zones on the contact strength of parts with stress concentrators under conditions of prevailing power loads. Practical implications: The results obtained in this work were used to determine the technological modes of plasma hardening, which ensure an increase in the contact strength of parts with stress concentrators, depending on their dimensional characteristics. Originality/value: Using the approaches of computational mechanics and mathematical and computer modeling, methods for controlling the contact strength of parts with inhomogeneous non-local properties in the presence of a surface stress concentrator are proposed for the first time.