Contact and thermal analysis of transfer film covered real composite-steel surfaces in sliding contact

Abstract

For composite-steel surfaces in sliding contact an anisotropic numerical contact algorithm has been developed to study the ‘layer type’ problems. An FE contact analysis was applied to evaluate the contact parameters (real contact area, contact pressure distribution and normal approach). The contact temperature rise was determined by using both a numerical thermal algorithm for stationary and a FE transient thermal technique for ‘fast sliding’ problems. The effect of a continuous transfer film layer (TFL), that had built up during wear of the PEEK matrix material on the steel counterpart, was considered. Its thickness was assumed to be t=1 μm, and its material properties were that of PEEK at room temperature or, in the case of frictional heating, at a temperature of 150°C (i.e. above the glass transition temperature of the polymer matrix). Results are presented for a spherical steel asperity, with/without TFL, sliding over composite surfaces of different fibre orientation, and in addition, for real composite-steel surfaces (based on measured surface roughness data) in sliding contact. The TFL has an effect on the contact parameters especially at higher operating temperatures (i.e. 150°C); it results in the production of a larger contact area and a lower contact pressure distribution. The contact temperature rise is clearly higher if a TFL is present. Due to the low thermal conductivity of PEEK, the TFL is close to the melting state or it even gets molten within a small vicinity of the contact area.