The effect of tangential elasticity of the contact layer between stator and rotor in travelling wave ultrasonic motors

Abstract In travelling wave ultrasonic motors the elliptical motion of material points of the stator drives the rotor due to frictional mechanisms. The motor characteristic strongly depends on the mechanical properties of the components stator, rotor and contact layer. In order to predict the motor behaviour, a model for the contact between stator and rotor has been developed. The goal of the present paper is to point out the importance of the tangential elasticity of the contact layer which is responsible for the formation of stick zones and also for the amount of friction losses and overall efficiency. Therefore a comparison with a model with a contact layer rigid in tangential direction is given. Based on a visco-elastic foundation model for the contact layer, torque–speed curves as well as torque–efficiency curves are computed. Experimental investigations for identification of parameters, check of assumptions and model validation are carried out. Finally, the model is used to show the results of parameter variations for normal force, vibration amplitude and modulus of elasticity of the contact layer.