On the stick-slip behaviour of water-lubricated rubber sealings

Abstract

The phenomenon of friction-induced vibration is investigated, focussing on the automobile topic of a car door window in sliding contact with the adjacent rubber seal. Within this study, the influencing parameters on the stick-slip motion are explored experimentally and using FE-simulation. A test rig is established to represent the situation at the car door window under defined and repeatable conditions. It consists of a rotating glass disc in sliding contact with a rubber specimen. The frictional properties of the rubber specimen and the glass disc as well as their vibration response and sound radiation are examined. Parameter studies regarding the influence of the relative sliding velocity and the contact normal force on the vibration response and the sound radiation are carried out experimentally and the results are discussed. A finite element model of the test setup is generated and validated with the spectral results of the recorded sound from experiment. With the use of FE-simulation a detailed analysis on the behaviour of friction-induced vibration of rubber specimen and glass disc is carried out. It can be identified, that the main impact on the spectral results of the friction-induced vibration is derived from the underlying frictional properties. Their influence is demonstrated in detail by picturing the motion of the rubber specimen, represented by the limit cycle, for different friction characteristics.