Why multiple disc in a disc coupling? 1

[linares]

Hello experts,

I am in designing a disc coupling for a custom application and I having some issues keeping the stresses under control. Almost all manufacturers use multiple thin disc stacked together. I understand that this is a good idea since cracks cannot propagate from one disc to the next. This disc are then joined by bushings in the holes.

Are there any "stress" benefits to using multiple discs other than what I have mentioned before? If the discs were only accommodating displacements in and out of plane I can see how using multiple discs could help keep the stresses under control, but it seems to me that they also have to accommodate rotations, which makes the multiple discs behave like single beam. i. e. exterior disc will be under a lot of stress and the ones closer to the center won't

Am I missing something?

Linares

 

[Compositepro]

For all the different types of misalignments the total deflection is divided between the discs. The more discs, the less strain on each disc.

 

[linares]

Compositepro

You are absolutely right. Obviously.

Thank you