Research Article
Qiang Z, Jun-Ming L, Yong-F
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanical characteristics of the high strength ring chain under various launch parameters and the energy consumption law caused by this. Particularly, the contact dynamics simulation is implemented in Abaqus. In this study, the stress and strain contours of the high strength ring chain under the chain speeds of 1.85 m/min, 5.6 m/min, and 7.8 m/min and under the transportation loads of 2t, 3t, and 3.5t are obtained, plus their stress histories. Simulation results show that the corresponding steady stresses under distinct chain speeds are 748.2 MPa, 754.5 MPa, and 755.6 MPa, determining the optimal chain speed of 5.6m min-1. After reaching the steady state, the maximum stresses under the loads of 2t, 3t, and 3.5t are 774.8 MPa, 758.1 MPa, and 747 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, the experimental results illustrate that the energy consumption caused by the friction among high strength ring chains under no-load operation occupies 23.8% of the resistance consumption. With the rise in loads, the total resistance consumption grows linearly. As a consequence, the research on the dynamic characteristics of the high strength ring chain is valuable for improving the working efficiency of the electromotor.