Roolikuormitus

Roolikuormitus (Finnish for rolling load) is a term used in engineering to describe the load transmitted to a surface by a rolling element, such as a wheel or roller, during motion. It is relevant in the design and analysis of systems where contact occurs through rolling contact, including road and railway engineering, conveyor systems, and rolling-element bearings.

The concept emphasizes the contact interaction between the rolling element and the supporting surface, as opposed to a static, single-point load. Roolikuormitus can be static or dynamic, incorporating effects from vehicle speed, acceleration, braking, and surface roughness. The resulting contact pressures are distributed over a contact patch and are influenced by factors such as load magnitude, wheel or roller geometry, tire inflation, surface stiffness, and layer structure of the supporting material.

Modeling approaches often use Hertz contact theory to estimate stresses in rolling contact pairs, sometimes combined with finite element methods to capture layered materials and complex geometries. In road and rail applications, roolikuormitus is a key input for fatigue, wear, and rutting assessments, while in bearings and conveyors it informs life predictions and performance criteria. Measurements may involve instrumented vehicles, stationary sensors, or laboratory tests, complemented by numerical simulations to characterize dynamic effects.

In summary, roolikuormitus describes the load distribution and dynamic effects produced by rolling elements at contact interfaces, and it is a central concept in the design, analysis, and assessment of systems featuring rolling contact.