Stress and stiffness analysis of the multiple corrugated diaphragm under angular load based on plate and shell theory

Description

Angang Cao, Huiting Jin, Wei Li, and Shiquan Jiang built a math model for a wavy metal diaphragm used in flexible couplings, in a 2025 paper. The part, a multiple corrugated diaphragm, flexes when shafts meet at an angle, and its rippled shape makes forces hard to predict with simple formulas. The team applied plate and shell theory, slicing the ripples into segments with sensible edge conditions. From that they derived formulas for how the part bends, where stress peaks, and how stiff it is against twisting.

They checked the model against detailed computer simulations. Bend shapes and stress patterns matched closely, and the stiffness figures agreed within seven percent. The authors conclude the model captures the part's core behavior. They offer it as a fast design tool, letting engineers size high-performance couplings without running a full simulation for every tweak.

Catalog record

Source: https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC12852724