Modeling of volumetric damage of multielement clamp-knife-base tribo-fatigue system

A multielement clamp-knife-base tribo-fatigue system is considered. This system is the main part of a harvester's cutting instrument. Boundary element approach in indirect statement is used to model boundary conditions for system's elements taking into account contact interaction between them, cutting force applied to the knife and fixings. Stress-strain state of the system is calculated as superposition of solutions for each boundary element to which predetermined surfaces tractions are applied. Damage state of each element of the system is calculated using the model of a solid with dangerous volume. According to this model dangerous volume is a set of elementary volumes in which acting stresses (strains) are greater than the limiting stress (strain). Obtained results show that the choice of material of the knife (steel or high strength cast iron) and the value of cutting force has significant effect on system's stress-strain state and state of damage.