Response surface test simulation of locking system reliability considering kinematic pair wear evolution

Abstract

The concentrated load endured by the locking system during the weapon mounting and release procedures may lead to mechanical wear in hinges and kinematic pairs, thereby influencing the functional reliability of the weapon rack mechanism system. This study aims to investigate the impact of kinematic pair wear evolution on the reliability of the locking system. Firstly, a rigid-flexible coupling multi-body dynamics model of the locking system was established to simulate the dynamic behaviors of the rack under different loading conditions. Moreover, the wear amounts of the main kinematic pairs were precisely calculated by the Archard wear model to provide data support for the subsequent reliability analysis. Subsequently, the response surface method was employed to design the orthogonal experiments for the reliability analysis of the locking system, and the reliability degradation law of the locking system within the design lifespan was obtained through the Monte Carlo method simulation. The research findings indicate that the wear of kinematic pairs has a significant effect on the motion function and accuracy of the mechanism. The motion reliability of the mechanism can be maintained above 99% within the design lifespan. Nevertheless, when the usage time exceeds twice the design lifespan, the reliability drops significantly to approximately 85%, and the influence degrees of different wear positions on the reliability were obtained through the sensitivity analysis. The research results not only provide a scientific basis for the optimal design of the locking system but also offer a novel perspective and method for the reliability assessment and maintenance strategy of the weapon rack locking system.

Keywords

• locking system
• wear and tear
• reliability
• response surface method
• sensitivity