Theoretical and experimental research of plastoelastic deformation and failure of ball screw under high load condition

In order to explore the failure mechanism of ball screws under the high load, according to the characteristics of contact deformation between the ball and the raceway surface in the high load working condition, a linear hardening elastic-plastic deformation analysis model is established. Application of Hertz contact theory derives elastic-plastic deformation of a contact place between the ball and the raceway. A linear strengthening elastic-plastic model is established. The calculation method of the elastic-plastic deformation on contact points of the ball and the raceway is proposed. Through the analyses of the plastic flow of raceway surface and friction characteristics, the failure mode and the failure mechanism of ball screws under the high load condition is obtained. The rationality of theoretical analysis is verified by the experiments. The research results provide a theoretical and experimental basis for the failure mechanisms and designing theory of ball screws under the high load conditions.