Fractal variation of three-dimensional surface topography during sliding wear under mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication

Abstract

The surface morphology variation of the friction pair during the wear process directly affects the local lubrication effect and contact strength, and this variation is difficult to quantify in mixed lubrication. In this study, a numerical simulation and characterization model method of sliding wear surface morphology evolution based on deterministic elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) model and surface three-dimensional morphology fractal method is established. The effectiveness of the lubrication model is verified by the film thickness measurement, and the actual surface wear coefficient is obtained through the wear experiment. On this basis, the variation of surface morphology and fractal parameters in the sliding wear process is investigated, and the effect of contact load and sliding speed on surface lubrication characteristics and fractal parameters is analyzed. The results show: wear will cause the higher wave peaks on the ground surface to be gradually worn away and the fine structure of the surface is reduced, and the fractal dimension of the morphology is therefore reduced. In addition, the contact area ratio and contact load ratio, as well as the coefficient of friction and surface evolution under different loads and sliding speeds are consistent.