Energy dissipation in sliding

Abstract

It is expected that the dissipation of energy in bodies which are sliding will alter their properties and hence affect their behavior in further sliding-in application. A description of the energy dissipation distribution in the sliding of one body over another is attempted. It is first demonstrated that the existence of a non-zero relative velocity between the sliding bodies indicates that sliding is a non-equilibrium process. A near-equilibrium analysis of the process using entropy production is then used to show that in sliding energy is dissipated. Limitations inherent in the near-equilibrium analysis make it necessary to study the far-from-equilibrium sliding process by use of energy conservation concepts. A model of the energy dissipation process in sliding as two coupled non-linear equations is developed. The non-linearity of the model makes many kinds of solution behavior possible. Of special interest is the possibility of cyclic energy dissipation behavior in the sliding bodies.