Finite element analysis for the laterally offset prediction of cold-proof cloth in contact with the rubber spreading roller

The groove pattern of the rubber spreading roller affected its spreading performance on the wrinkled cold-proof cloth. For analysing the spreading performance in dynamic conditions, a finite element sliding contact model between the rubber spreading roller and the cold-proof cloth was developed for studying the lateral offset with different contact pressures, slip velocities, and groove patterns of the spreading roller, which constituted a prediction model for the lateral offset. A new test device of the lateral offset was developed to compare the predictive and experimental results to verify the accuracy of the finite element model. The results showed that increasing the contact pressure was beneficial to increasing the lateral offset. The slip velocity had a significant effect on the lateral offset and the positive slip velocity promoted the lateral offset better than the negative slip velocity. The effect of groove pattern parameters on the lateral offset was independent of the slip velocity. Only the diameter, groove number, and pitch affected the lateral offset significantly. With the groove pattern parameters optimised by the prediction model, the relative error between the predictive and experimental results of the lateral offset was 8.62%, indicating the accuracy and reliability of the prediction model. Moreover, the optimised spreading roller could effectively weaken the wrinkles in the rolling experiment of the cold-proof cloth. The prediction of the lateral offset model based on the finite element analysis would be useful for the reliable design of the rubber spreading roller.