An analysis of elasto-plastic sliding spherical asperity interaction

• Published in: Wear Vol. 262; no. 1; pp. 210 - 219
• Main Authors: Jackson, Robert L., Duvvuru, Ravi S., Meghani, Hasnain, Mahajan, Manoj
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 04.01.2007; Amsterdam Elsevier Science; New York, NY
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Asperity–asperity contact; Contact mechanics; Exact sciences and technology; Finite element analysis; Friction; Friction, wear, lubrication; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Inelasticity (thermoplasticity, viscoplasticity...); Machine components; Mechanical contact (friction...); Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Physics; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Asperity–asperity contact; Finite element analysis; Friction; Contact mechanics; Averaging method; Roughness; Mechanical contact; Metal; Rough surface; Modeling; Asperity-asperity contact; Inelasticity; Elastoplasticity; Contact stress; Sliding contact; Plasticity; Tribology
• ISSN: 0043-1648; 1873-2577
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wear.2006.05.011

This work seeks to characterize the component of friction, which arises from energy being dissipated via elasto-plastic deformation during sliding contact (as apposed to adhesive mechanisms). The sliding interaction between spheres is analyzed using two approaches (a semi-analytical and finite element simulation). These analyses are used to formulate empirical equations, which describe the average tangential and normal forces resulting from the sliding interaction. A parametric study of the properties of typical metals is then used to help verify the effectiveness of the empirical equations. The study shows that the effective friction coefficient between spherical asperities increases with the elastic modulus, decreases with yield strength, and increases with the interference between the contacts (dependant on the normal load).