Thermomechanical Modeling of Engineering Surfaces in Sliding Contact

Suny At Buffalo, Amherst NY

Investigators

Abstract

0084632 Soom In modern engineering practice, systems and components that rely on frictional response are ubiquitous. Clutches, brakes and rubbing seals are well known examples from mechanical engineering. Despite the apparent simplicity of the sliding contact problem, its economic importance, and the efforts that have been devoted to research on this topic recent decades, a detailed physical understanding of many aspects of behavior remains elusive, particularly those associated with thermal effects. In this project, supported under the initiative on Exploratory Research on Model Based Simulation, we will develop a computational mechanics approach to modeling these problems based on a multi-level boundary element method which can be scaled up to solve large problems. An unsteady three-dimensional thermomechanical formulation that includes surface texture and near-surface nonlinearities will be implemented. A speed or temperature dependent friction will be employed. The computational methods, while fully three-dimensional in nature, will initially be applied to a series of rotating ring geometries that will be studied in a parallel program of physical experiments. The experiments will be compared with computational results based on full field deformation analysis of a stationary ring or disc under both constant and unsteady sliding conditions. ***