抄録
The link chains, which are used in lifting machines such as a chain hoist and a conveyor, are very important components in those machines because the fatal accident may occur by the falling of a load when a link chain is fractured. They are usually fractured by fatigue. Therefore the fatigue of the link chain becomes large problem in loading facilities. However, not only fatigue characteristics but also stress distributions have not been clear due to the complex shape of a link chain. In this paper, in order to clarify fatigue characteristics of link chain, the stress distribution in a link chain was analyzed by the finite element analysis (FEM) and the result was compared with the measurement values by strain gauges. In addition, fatigue tests of link chains were carried out in order to evaluate the fatigue strength, and then the fatigue fracture surfaces were observed by the scanning electron microscope (SEM).
