A Model of Contour Evolution Due to Wear in a Revolute Joint

This article develops a model for studying the contour evolution of a bearing's internal surface due to wear in a revolute joint. In the model, every changing contour in evolution is defined as a set of movable nodes and links, and the effect of the legacy contour on the next contour by the normal directions and the effect of the journal contact surface on movement of these nodes and links are the focus. The numerical results show that the contact length and the normal directions of the contours in evolution are changing. A contour in evolution cannot reflect absolutely the geometric shapes of the map of the joint reaction forces. The curvature radius of any node on the changing contour is not less than the radius of the journal. The journal external surface as another contact surface in a revolute joint has effects on the geometrical shape of a contour. Such models can be used for predicting the geometric shapes of the contour and the clearances in a revolute joint.