A stiffness model of a joint surface with inclination based on fractal theory

Under long-term uneven loading, joint surfaces between the components of heavy-duty machine tools become inclined owing to both external loads as well as the heavy weight of the machinery itself. In this study, to reconstruct the real contact parameters at certain angles of inclination, the macro contact angle was first converted into a micro contact angle based on the stress characteristics and the deformation of asperities were considered. The real contact surface area was then calculated using piecewise integration according to three stages deformation: elastic, elastoplastic, and completely plastic. A stiffness model of the joint surface was derived according to classification theory. Finally, an experimental system with inclinations between the joint surfaces was built and used to validate the model by comparing theoretical and experimental mode values. The present paper analyzes the influence of different fractal parameters, inclination values, and other important parameters on the characteristics of the joint surface using the proposed fractal model and provides a theoretical basis for improving the design and precision of heavy-duty CNC machine tools.