Application of multi-level multi-integration to contact problems Part 1: Non-Hertzian contact in rolling bearings

Abstract

This paper describes in detail a computer program for the analysis of non-Hertzian contact in rolling bearings using multi-level multi-integration (MLMI), by which any object, i.e. the surface displacement and/or the internal stress component for a given contact pressure distribution, can be obtained in extremely reduced computing time compared with the conventional technique. This paper is composed of three parts: the determination of the values of MLMI parameters so as to make the program adjustable for the wide range of aspect ratios of the mesh rectangle; the development of the numerical procedure solving the contact problem to ensure stable and fast convergence; the application to the contact problems in rolling bearings. By the developed program, the contact analysis can be performed on a personal computer within a few minutes, even if the total number of grid points is more than ten thousand.