Fracture and Damage Mechanisms of Slipper-Retainer Assembly in Axial Piston Machines

Abstract

Axial Piston Machine is a key component in many hydraulic, agriculture, construction, aeronautic, mobile robots, and many other fields. Its reputation stems from its compactness, relative ease in controlling the effective fluid displacement per shaft revolution, and high-pressure operation. However, it is facing problems of rupture, fracture, and damage of its elements, among which are slipper and retainer. These problems cause fatigue of the entire machine and consequently loss of energy and performance. Thus, to better understand the origin and causes and predict the exaggerated deformation and the increasing deterioration of Axial Piston Machine's components, we first investigated the theoretical modeling, including mathematical and simulation modeling of the slipper-retainer interface. The related external forces and applied loads considering the normal working condition of the machine are analyzed. Also, to better assess the effect of materials, materials with specific characteristics are used for simulating the hydrostatic pressure, stain, and elastic deformation of slipper-retainer assembly. At the end of each simulation, weariness is checked for each material. The most exposed areas of slipper and retainer to the fracture and intensive fatigue are determined. Finally, to validate our simulation results, a new pump is tested for a particular time to observe wear on the surfaces; suggestions are giving for improving the durability of axial piston machines.