Assessment of elliptical conformal hertz analysis applied to constant velocity joints

To analyze the contact between two spherical bodies with different radii of curvature, the three-dimensional (3D) Hertz theory for elliptical contact is typically used. When the two contacting bodies have high conformity, such as the case for ball-in-groove, the Hertz theory may break down. In this research, finite element analysis (FEA) was used to assess the validity of 3D Hertz theory as found in the roller-housing contact of constant velocity joints. The contact area, normal approach, and contact pressure results show that Hertz agrees with FEA predictions for low compressive loads, where the contact ellipse is within the geometrical contact dimensions. At higher loads the contact ellipse extends beyond the contacting geometrical dimensions and the simplified analytical Hertz results diverge from the FEA results.