2231

A generalized theory for shafthub couplings

D Croccolo and N Vincenzi
DIEM, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento, Bologna, Italy
The manuscript was received on 10 November 2008 and was accepted after revision for publication on 5 May 2009.
DOI: 10.1243/09544062JMES1437

Abstract: The design of compression-t joints, based on the theory of thick-walled cylinders,
is usually referred to shafthub couplings carried out between two elements that have an axial
symmetric shape. The stress distributions both inside the elements and on the contact surfaces
can be dened by the equilibrium and by the compatibility formulae once the total radial interference and the internal and external pressure (the boundary conditions) are known. The complete
tensile state of the coupling is dened by two principal stresses: the radial and the hoop tensions.
The present article aims at extending the analytic calculation valid for two elements to a number
of n elements by means of a sequential solution of the governing equation system. The elements in
contact can rotate at a generic angular velocity and can, also, be made of different materials. The
overall solution has been derived starting from the hypothesis of the simultaneous presence of
axial symmetric geometries and axial symmetric loads. The mathematical model has been veried
by comparing the theoretical results with some nite-element analysis calculations performed
on the same coupled elements.
Keywords: shafthub couplings, thick-wall cylinder theory, interference, angular velocity,
generalized theory

INTRODUCTION

The design of compression-t joints [1, 2], based on

the thick-walled cylinder theory [3], is usually referred
to shafthub couplings carried out between two elements that have an axial symmetric shape. The usual
design philosophy [4] is based on Lams solution
for the thick-walled cylinders assuming a state of
plane stress both in the shaft and in the hub. Under
the hypothesis of the same axial length for the shaft
and the hub, the theoretical stresses are constant on
the whole coupling surface; on the contrary, if the
shaft extends beyond the hub there is a stress concentration factor on the boundary zone, which can
be evaluated, for example, by performing numerical
investigations. Within the elastic eld, the well-known
formulae of the equilibrium and of the compatibility
can dene the stress distributions inside the elements
if the radial interference ZR , the internal pressure pint ,
and the external pressure pext are known. The boundary conditions are shown in Fig. 1. The equilibrium
Corresponding

author: DIEM, University of Bologna, Viale

Resorgimento, Bologna 40136, Italy.

email: dario.croccolo@unibo.it
JMES1437

between the shaft and the hub has to be set on the

coupling radius rc , where it is necessary to dene the
unknown coupling pressure pc . This pressure depends
on the stiffness of the two elements in contact, which
is related to the Youngs modulus Ei,i+1 , Poisson ratio
i,i+1 , and Qi,i+1 parameters, equal to the ratios between
the internal and the external diameters of the hub (i)
and of the shaft (i + 1). The complete stress state of the
coupling, represented by two principal stresses, radial
and hoop [1, 3], is uniquely determined by means of
the equilibrium conditions.
The present article aims at extending the analytic
calculation valid for two elements to a number of
n elements; once the boundary conditions (internal,
pn , and external, p0 , pressure on the elements) and
the total actual radial interference of each coupling
Ztot_i are known, it is possible to carry out the analytic calculation by means of a sequential solution of
the equations system. The elements in contact can
be made of different materials and, since normally
these types of coupling are used to join some rotating
elements, they can, also, rotate at a generic angular
velocity . The overall solution has been deduced in
assuming the simultaneous presence of axial symmetric geometries and axial symmetric loads and it is valid
for solid shaft too (in this case the element n has an
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2232

Fig. 1

D Croccolo and N Vincenzi

Scheme of the shafthub coupling between two

elements

inner radius and an inner pressure equal to zero). An

example of application could be a pipe made of different materials (for example, steel alloy and copper
alloy) joint together by compression-t or expanding
operations.
2

METHODOLOGY

The overall solution for n elements in contact has been

dened rst by analysing the ith coupling separately
and second by combining the results for each coupling
according to the boundary conditions. The elements
can be made of different materials, each one characterized by the ith Youngs modulus Ei and by the ith
Poisson ratio i .
The following equations dene the total radial
(ri_tot ) and the total hoop (ti_tot ) stresses in each of
the n elements, for static and dynamic loads

Bi
3 + i 2

+ i 2 ri1
Qg_i

2
ri_tot = Ai Qg_i
8

1 + 3i 2
Bi

2 2

Qg_i
ti_tot = Ai + 2 + i ri1
8
Qg_i
rg_i
Qg_i =
; i = 1, . . . , n
ri1

two results will be combined together to have the overall solution. The tensile state is assumed to be always
below the linear elastic limit.
Referring to Fig. 2, the input data are the external
p0 and the internal pn pressures applied to the series
of n elements and the total actual radial interference
Ztot_i produced at the n 1 coupling surfaces, which
can be, easily, dened by the difference between the
radius dimensions, in the unstressed state, of the elements in contact (ith and i + 1th). Therefore, the ith
element is loaded by an internal pressure pi and by
an external pressure pi1 , with i = 1, . . . , n. From now
on, the subscript s identies the quantities related
to the static effect, that are the ith interference, the
p0 , and the pn , whereas the subscript d identies the
quantities related to the rotating effect.
The ith radial and hoop stresses in equation (1)
can be therefore computed by solving the following
n system of equations



2
1
Q

1 2
= pi1_s + (pi_s pi1_s )

ri_s
1 Qi2
Qg_i



1
Qi2

ti_s = pi1_s + (pi pi1_s )

1+ 2

1 Qi2
Qg_i
Qg_i =

rg_i
ri
, Qi =
; i = 1, . . . , n
ri1
ri1

(2)

The n systems dened by equations (2) for n different values of the ith element cannot be directly solved
by a simple substitution of the unknown quantities,
e.g. starting from the external element and moving
towards the internal one or vice versa, because the
pressures pi are unknown for i = 2, . . . , n 1.
In fact, n 1 equations are linearly dependent
because of the radial equilibrium on the contact
surfaces of the n 1 couplings: on these surfaces
ri_s_int = ri+1_s_ext = pi_s . Therefore, the total system
of equations has (n1) solutions.
The n 1 missing equations can be deduced by the
compatibility conditions of the displacements on the

(1)

where Qg_i is the ratio between the generic radius rg _i

of the ith element and the external radius ri1 of the ith
element, and Ai and Bi are two constants that depend
on the boundary conditions of the ith element. The
constants Ai and Bi are directly correlated to the internal and external pressures acting on the ith element:
ri_tot_int = pi and ri_tot_ext = pi1 , where the subscripts int and ext refer to the internal and external
radius of the ith element, respectively.
In the rst part of the article, a series of n elements
will be considered loaded under static conditions,
whereas in the second part only the effect of the angular velocity will be taken into account. Finally, the

Fig. 2

Scheme of the shafthub coupling between n

elements

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JMES1437

A generalized theory for shafthub couplings

n 1 contact surfaces. The hoop strain ti_s on the ith

element is given by the following equation
ti_s =

1
Zi
(ti_s i ri_s ) =
Ei
ri

Zi_int =

Zi+1_ext

be further compressed as
Ki =

(3)

The value of the total radial interference Ztot_i of the

ith coupling can be computed by taking the difference of the radial displacements of the two elements
in contact (Zi_int and Zi+1_ext )


ri
1 + Qi2
pi1_s + (pi_s pi1_s )
+

p
i
i_s
Ei
1 Qi2
(4)

2
2Qi+1
ri
pi_s + (pi+1_s pi_s )
=
2
Ei+1
1 Qi+1

(5)
+ i+1 pi_s

Ztot_i = Zi_int Zi+1_ext



ri
1 + Qi2
pi1_s + (pi_s pi1_s )
=
+

p
i i_s
Ei
1 Qi2

2
2Qi+1
ri

pi_s + (pi+1_s pi_s )

2
Ei+1
1 Qi+1

(6)
+ i+1 pi_s

2233

Li =
Ni+1

[(1 + Qi2 )/(1 Qi2 ) + i ]

Ei
2
2
/(1 Qi+1
)]
1 i+1 + [2Qi+1
+
Ei+1
1 + [(1 + Qi2 )/(1 Qi2 )]
Ei
2
2
)]
[2Qi+1 /(1 Qi+1
=
Ei+1

(8)
(9)
(10)

and providing an intermediate expression

pi_s Ki = pi1_s Li +

Ztot_i
+ pi+1_s Ni+1
ri

(11)

Equation (11) can be further generalized in the following form

pi_s Hi = Ji_s + pi+1_s Ii+1

(12)

where only for i = 1

H1 = K1

(13)

I2 = N2

(14)

J1_s = p0 L1 +

Ztot_1
r1

(15)

Increasing the i index, equation (11) gives

with i = 1, . . . , n 1.
If the coupling is clearance-t the Ztot_i is, obviously,
equal to zero.
The addition of the n 1 compatibility equations
leads to a system of 2n equations with 2n unknown
variables, which therefore can be uniquely solved. The
following equation provides the value of the pressure
pi_s on the ith interface as a function of the geometrical parameters, of the material properties, and of the
pressures acting on the faced elements

pi_s = pi+1_s

Ki+1
Ni+2
Ztot_i+1

pi+2_s
Li+1
ri+1 Li+1
Li+1

(16)

Now substitution of equation (16) into equation (12)

results in

Ki+1
Ni+2
Ztot_i+1
Hi

pi+2_s
pi+1_s
Li+1
ri+1 Li+1
Li+1
= Ji_s + pi+1_s Ii+1

(17)

Then equation (17) can be written as

pi_s =

(Ztot_i /ri ) + (pi1_s /Ei )[1 + (1 + Qi2 )/(1 Qi2 )]

2
2
+ {(pi+1_s /Ei+1 )[2Qi+1
/(1 Qi+1
)]}
{[(1 + Qi2 )/(1 Qi2 ) + i ]/Ei }
2
2
+ {[1 i+1 + (2Qi+1
)/(1 Qi+1
)]/Ei+1 }
(7)

Ki+1
Hi Ii+1
Li+1
Ni+2
Ztot_i+1
= Ji_s +
Hi + pi+2_s
Hi
ri+1 Li+1
Li+1

pi+1_s

pi+1_s Hi+1 = Ji+1_s + pi+2_s Ii+2

(18)
(19)

with i = 1, . . . , n 1.
The n 1 equations generated by the iteration of
equation (7) at the n 1 interfaces provide the n 1
coupling pressures as a function of the p0 and pn . This
system of equations can be automatically solved for
example by means of a spreadsheet or of a specic
programming language. In this case equation (7) can

Increasing again the i index of equation (11) and

combining it with equation (12), equation (18) gives

JMES1437

Proc. IMechE Vol. 223 Part C: J. Mechanical Engineering Science

Ki+2
Hi+1 Ii+2
Li+2
Ni+3
Ztot_i+2
= Ji+1_s +
Hi+1 + pi+3_s
Hi+1
ri+2 Li+2
Li+2

pi+2_s

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(20)

2234

D Croccolo and N Vincenzi

which nally can be written as

where

pi+2_s Hi+2 = Ji+2_s + pi+3_s Ii+3

i+1 2 ri2 (3 + i+1 )/8

1 + 3i+1
2
1 + 2Qi+1
Vi =
Ei+1
3 + i+1

2 2
i ri1 (3 + i )/8
1 + 3i 2

2 + Qi2
Qi
Ei
3 + i
(29)

(21)

and, therefore, for i = 2, . . . , n 1

Ki
Hi1 Ii
Li
Ni+1
Ii+1 =
Hi1
Li
Ztot_i
Ji_s = Ji1_s +
Hi1
ri L i
Hi =

(22)
(23)
(24)

The decrease of contact pressure because of an angular velocity in rotating ts between only two elements
was investigated by Biezeno and Grammel [5]. In the
case of n elements rotating at an angular velocity ,
the ith radial and hoop stresses of equation (1) can
be computed by solving the following n system of
equations

Afterwards, it is possible to combine the results given

by equation (27) with those given by equation (7) by
applying the superposition principle [6], which is valid
below the material yielding.
The total ith coupling pressure, which depends on
the interferences between the elements, on the external and internal pressures, and on the rotation velocity,
can be computed by the following formula
(Ztot_i /ri ) + (pi1_t /Ei )[1 + (1 + Qi2 )/(1 Qi2 )]
2
2
+ (pi+1_t /Ei+1 )(2Qi+1
/(1 Qi+1
)
2 2
+ {i+1 ri [(3 + i+1 )/8]/Ei+1 }




3 + i
Qi2

2
2
2 2

1 + Qi 2 Qg_i

ri_d = i ri1 8
Qg_i


2

3
+

Q
1
+
3
i
i

i
2

1 + Qi2 + 2
Q2
ti_d = i 2 ri1

8
3 + i g_i
Qg_i
Qg_i =

rg_i
ri
, Qi =
; i = 1, . . . , n
ri1
ri1

ti_s
Ei

Equation (30) can be compressed as

As the Ztot_i are also equal to zero, the value of the ith
pressure on the ith interface can be deduced from the
following equation

(27)

2
2
+ {[1 i+1 + (2Qi+1
)/(1 Qi+1
)]/Ei+1 }

Vi
Ki

(Ztot_i /ri ) + pi1_tot Li1 + pi+1_tot Ni+1 + Vi

Ki
(31)

or
pi_tot Ki =

Ztot_i
+ pi1_tot Li1 + pi+1_tot Ni+1 + Vi (32)
ri

Equation (32) becomes

pi_tot Hi = Ji + pi+1_tot Ii+1

(33)

H1 = K1

(34)

I2 = N2

(35)

J1_tot = p0 L1 +

Ztot_1
+ V1 = J1_s + V1
r1

(36)

and for i = 2, . . . , n 1

Equation (27) can be compressed as

pi_d =

pi_tot =

where for i = 1

{i+1 2 ri2 [(3 + i+1 )/8]/Ei+1 }

2
[1 + 2Qi+1
(1 + 3i+1 )/(3 + i+1 )]
pi_d =

{[(1 + Qi2 )/(1 Qi2 ) + i ]/Ei }

2
2
+ {[1 i+1 + (2Qi+1
)/(1 Qi+1
)]/Ei+1 }
(30)

(26)

2
{i 2 ri1
[(3 + i )/8]/Ei }
2
[2 + Qi (1 + 3i )/(3 + i )Qi2 ]
{[(1 + Qi2 )/(1 Qi2 ) + i ]/Ei }

pi_tot =

(25)

in which the elements are free from external or internal

pressures and interference is also absent.
In this case the radial stresses on the coupling surfaces are equal to zero: ri_d_int = ri+1_d_ext = 0. The
hoop strain ti_d on the ith element is, therefore, given
by the following equation
ti_d =

2
(1 + 3i+1 )/(3 + i+1 )]
[1 + 2Qi+1
2
{i 2 ri1
[(3 + i )/8]/Ei }
2
[2 + Qi (1 + 3i )/(3 + i )Qi2 ]

(28)

Ki
Hi1 Ii
Li
Ni+1
=
Hi1
Li

Hi =

(37)

Ii+1

(38)

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JMES1437

JMES1437

0.0000
0.0250
0.0100
0.0000
1.61E-05
7.32E-06

3.97E-03
4.59E-03
4.20E-05
2.75E-05
5.48E-06
3.07E-06
1.01E-05
1.61E-05
7.78E-06
1.98E-05
4.47E-05
1.75E-05
4.20E-05
4.63E-05
0.71
0.60
0.67
35.000
24.988
14.995
10.000
70.000
50.000
30.000
49.950
29.980
20.000
7850
2770
7850

Vi

Hi
(MPa1 )

Ii
(MPa1 )

Ji

206 000
70 000
206 000
0
1
2
3

Scheme of the shafthub coupling between three

elements that rotate at the angular velocity

Fig. 3

420
(rad/s)
Ei (MPa)

4011
(r/min)
i

Table 1

(41)

0.29
0.33
0.29

ti_tot = ti_d + ti_s

3 + i

= i 2 ri1




Qi2
1 + 3i 2

1 + Qi + 2
pi1_tot
Q

3 + i g_i
Qg_i




1
Qi2

1+ 2
+ (pi_tot pi1_tot )

1 Qi2
Qg_i

Ni
(MPa1 )

ri_tot = ri_d + ri_s




Qi2
3 + i

2
2
2 2

= i ri1
1 + Qi 2 Qg_i

8
Qg_i

Qi2

p
+
(p

p
)

i1_tot
i_tot
i1_tot

1 Qi2




1 2

Q
g_i

Li
(MPa1 )

The unknown radial and hoop stresses on the ith

element are given by the following overall equations

Ki
(MPa1 )

(40)

Qi

pi_tot Ii + Ji1_tot
Hi1

ri
(mm)

pi1_tot =

Di ext
(mm)

Equations (34), (35), (37), and (38) are equal to equations (13), (14), (22), and (23), respectively, whereas
equations (36) and (39) are different from equations (15) and (24) because they contain the rotating
velocity contribution.
The sequential system of equations (34) to (39)
developed starting from the external element and
moving towards the internal one is, at all, useful
to calculate the unknown pressures pi by means of
equation (40), which has to be solved starting from
the pn1 and moving towards the p1

Zi
(mm)

(39)

Di int
(mm)

Hi1

pi tot
(MPa)

i
(kg/m3 )

Ji_tot = Ji1_tot +

Ztot_i
Vi
+
ri L i
Li

Geometrical parameters and mathematical model development for the studied coupling

2235

150.00
161.39
175.01
30

A generalized theory for shafthub couplings

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2236

D Croccolo and N Vincenzi

APPLICATIONS AND NUMERICAL RESULTS

The overall formulae, deduced in the previous section,

have been tested and applied to a series of three
elements (n = 3) subjected to an external pressure
p0 = 150 MPa, an internal pressure p3 = 30 MPa, an
actual radial interference Ztot_1 = 0.025 mm between
the elements 1 and 2, and an actual radial interference Ztot_2 = 0.010 mm between the elements 2
and 3. The element dimensions are r0 = 35.000, r1 =
24.988, r2 = 14.995, and r3 = 10.000 mm. The three
elements rotate at an angular velocity of = 420 rad1
(4011 r/min); the rst and the third element are made
of steel (E1 = E3 = 206 GPa; 1 = 3 = 0.29, 1 = 3 =
7850 kg/m3 ), whereas the second element is made of
aluminium (E2 = 70 GPa; 2 = 0.33, 2 = 2770 kg/m3 ).
The scheme of the coupling is shown in Fig. 3,
whereas the geometrical quantities and the values of

Table 2

Geometrical parameters and stress values calculation for the studied coupling

420
4011
Di int
(rad/s)
(r/min) i
Ei (MPa) i
(kg/m3 ) (mm)

0
1
2
3

206 000
70 000
206 000

0.29
0.33
0.29

7850
2770
7850

Fig. 4

the parameters to be introduced in equation (33) are

reported in Table 1.
The iteration of equation (33) for the two couplings (n 1 = 2) provides the unknown pressure values given by equation (40) and the radial and hoop
stresses given by equation (41). The values of r , t ,
and equivalent stresses, according to the Von-Mises
criterion, computed on the internal and on the external surfaces of the three elements, are reported in
Table 2.
In order to verify the theoretical results reported in
Table 2, a nite-element method (FEM) analysis [7, 8]
was performed on a model with the same geometrical and structural characteristic. The software used is
the Ansys Workbench (release 11) programs, and a
non-linear analysis has been carried out because of
the presence of the contact elements; the stresses have
been evaluated in the linear elastic led. The contour

Di ext
(mm)

ri
(mm)

Zi
(mm)

pi tot
(MPa)

r i int
(MPa)

r i ext
(MPa)

t i int
(MPa)

t i ext
(MPa)

VM i int
(MPa)

35.000 0.0000 150.00

49.950 70.000 24.988 0.0250 161.39 161.39 150.00 113.38 125.31 143.54
29.980 50.000 14.995 0.0100 175.00 175.00 161.39 132.17 145.92 158.01
20.000 30.000 10.000 0.0000
30.00
30.00 175.01 552.03 407.13 537.65

VM i ext
(MPa)
139.31
154.24
353.74

Contour plot of the total radial tension ri_tot for the studied coupling

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JMES1437

A generalized theory for shafthub couplings

plots of the radial (ri_FEM ) and hoop (ti_FEM ) stresses

are shown in Figs 4 and 5, respectively, whereas their
numerical values are reported in Table 3. The FEM
analysis was performed on a simplied model (the
fourth part of the original geometry) in order to reduce
the computational time and to rene the mesh dimension. As shown in Table 3, the FEM results are very
close to the theoretical values and the discrepancies
are always lower than 2 per cent.
An important application of equation (30) is the
denition of the actual pressure because of the static
and dynamic contributions. Therefore, it is possible to
calculate the actual coupling strength (the releasing
moment for instance), which is usually reduced by the
velocity contribution. In case of a solid shaft and of the
shaft and the hub of the same material, it is possible
to calculate the ratio between the total and the static
pressure, which is equal to the ratio between the total

Fig. 5
Table 3

and static releasing moment

ptot
ps

E(Ztot_1 /r1 ) + 2 2 r12 (3 + )/8

[1 (1 + 3)/(3 + )] i 2 r02 (3 + )/8
[2 + Q12 (1 + 3)/(3 + )Q12 ]
=
E(Ztot_1 /r1 )


Mt_tot
1 + 3
r1 2 3 + 2
=
r1 1

=1+
Mt_s
EZtot_1 8
3+


1 + 3 2
r02 2 + Q12
(42)
Q
3+ 1

If the two elements rotate at an angular velocity

of = 420 rad1 (4011 r/min) and they are made
of steel (E1 = E2 = 206 GPa, 1 = 2 = 0.29, and 1 =
2 = 7850 kg/m3 ) with r0 = 35.000, r1 = 24.995, and
r2 = 0.000 mm, and an actual radial interference
Ztot_1 = 0.010 mm, equation (42) gives 0.9831.

Contour plot of the total hoop tension ti_tot for the studied coupling

Stress values given by the FEM analysis and errors calculated with respect to the theoretical values

420 (rad/s) 4011 (r/min)

 %

FEM result

r i int
n (MPa)

r i ext
(MPa)

t i int
(MPa)

0
1 160.70
2 173.80
3 37.50

150.00
160.40
173.30

115.90 127.10 143.64

132.30 145.70 157.21
545.21 403.10 530.62

JMES1437

2237

t i ext
(MPa)

VM i int VM i ext r i int r i ext t i int t i ext VM i int VM i ext
(MPa)
(MPa)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
(%)
139.96
153.58
350.24

0.43
0.69
1.67

0.00
0.61
0.98

2.22
0.10
1.23

1.43
0.15
0.99

0.07
0.50
1.31

0.47
0.43
0.99

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2238

D Croccolo and N Vincenzi

The same result may be obtained by applying equations (43) and (44) as presented in reference [1]

2
Mt_tot

=1
(43)
Mt_s
L

4 EZtot_1
L =
(44)
3 + r02 r1
4

DISCUSSION

The mathematical model presented in this article is

useful for dening the tensile state in n axial symmetric elements coupled together with or without
interference. Once the boundary conditions have been
dened, it is possible to solve the system of equations by applying an iterative method, which starts,
rst, from the element 0 up to element n, and, then
proceeds from the coupling n 1 moving towards the
coupling 1 in order to calculate the unknown pressures pi_tot . The mathematical model can be applied
to n shafthub couplings made of different materials
and which rotate at the same angular velocity. The proposed formulae are able to calculate the values both of
the contact pressures pi_tot , useful for the denition
of the coupling strength, and of the radial ri and
the hoop ti stresses, useful for the denition of the
material strength.
The overall model, which has been tested for two
different applications, can be easily implemented into
a spreadsheet (e.g. Microsoft Excel).
Finally, while equations (43) and (44) allow us to
evaluate, essentially, the loss of torque moment due
to the rotating velocity, equation (30) permits to calculate the actual pressure or, starting from the torque
moment, the actual interference.
5

Authors 2009
REFERENCES
1 Niemann, G., Winter, H., and Hohn, B. R. Maschineelemente B.d. I, 2005 (Springer, Berlin).
2 Kollmann, F. G. Welle-Nabe-Verbindungen Konstructionsbucher Bd.32, 1984 (Springer, Berlin).
3 Strozzi, A. Costruzione di Macchine, 1998 (Pitagora
Editrice, Bologna).
4 Hall Jr, A. S., Holowenko, A. R., and Laughlin, H. G.
Metal ts and tolerances. In Shaums outline of theory
and problems of machine design, 1961, pp. 1821 (Shaum
Publishing Co., New York).
5 Biezeno, C. B. and Grammel, R. Rotierende Scheiben,
Technische Dynamik, vol. 2, 2nd edititon, 1971 (Springer,
Berlin).
6 Gao, B., Shi, X., Liu, H., and Li, J. Separation of primary stress in nite element analysis of pressure vessel
with the principle of superposition. In Proceedings of the
Asian Pacic Conference Fracture and Strength 2006
APCFS06, 2006, pp. 373376.
7 Zao, H. Numerical analysis of the interference tting
stresses between wheel and shaft. Int. J. Mater. Prod.
Technol., 1997, 12(46), 514526.
8 Croccolo, D., Cuppini, R., and Vincenzi, N. The design
and optimization of forkpin compression coupling in
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2007, 43, 977988.

APPENDIX
Notation
Ei
Mt_s
Mt_tot
n
pc

CONCLUSION
pint , pext

This article provides a mathematical model that is

applicable to a system of n axial symmetric elements, made of different materials, eventually coupled
together with a radial interference and that can rotate
at a given angular velocity. The analytical frame has
been developed to calculate the complete stress state
of the n elements by applying an iterative solution of
the analytical system. The mathematical model can
also be easily implemented into a spreadsheet in order
to carry out the solutions automatically. The analytical solutions of three elements coupled with a radial
interference on both the coupling surfaces, made of
different materials (steel and aluminium), subjected
to an internal and an external pressure and to a
given angular velocity, have been compared with some
FEM results performed with the Ansys Workbench
(release 11) programs. The FEM results conrmed the
effectiveness of the model.

pi_d
pi_s
pi_tot
pn , p0
Qg_i
rc
ri , ri1 , rg_i
Zi
Zi_ext
Zi_int

Youngs modulus of the ith element

(MPa)
static releasing moment (Nmm)
total releasing moment (Nmm)
number of elements in contact
coupling pressure in a shafthub
coupling between two elements (MPa)
internal and external pressure in a
shafthub coupling between two
elements (MPa)
ith dynamic coupling pressure (MPa)
ith static coupling pressure (MPa)
ith total coupling pressure (MPa)
internal and external pressure on the
n elements in contact (MPa)
ratio between the generic and the
external shaft radius of the ith element
coupling radius in a shafthub
coupling between two elements (mm)
internal, external, and generic radius
of the ith element (mm)
generic radial displacement (mm)
radial displacement on the external
radius (mm)
radial displacement on the internal
radius (mm)

Proc. IMechE Vol. 223 Part C: J. Mechanical Engineering Science

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JMES1437

A generalized theory for shafthub couplings

ZR
Ztot_i
i
i
ri
ri_d
ri_FEM
ri_s
ri_s_ext

JMES1437

radial interference in a shafthub

coupling between two elements (mm)
total radial interference of the ith
coupling (mm)

ri_s_int

Poisson ratio of the ith element

density of the ith element (kg/m3 )
radial tension of the ith element (MPa)
radial tension of the ith element
depending on the dynamic conditions
(MPa)
radial tension of the ith element
obtained by the FEM analysis (MPa)
radial tension of the ith element
depending on the static conditions
(MPa)
radial tension on the external radius
depending on the static conditions
(MPa)

ti_d

ti

ti_FEM
ti_s
VM_i_ext
VM_i_int

2239

radial tension on the internal radius

depending on the static conditions
(MPa)
hoop tension of the ith element
(MPa)
hoop tension of the ith element
depending on the dynamic conditions
(MPa)
hoop tension of the ith element
obtained by the FEM analysis
(MPa)
hoop tension of the ith element
depending on the static conditions
(MPa)
von Mises tension on the external
radius (MPa)
von Mises tension on the internal
radius (MPa)
angular velocity (rad/s)

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