Thermal Damage on Rolling/Sliding Contact Surfaces as Produced by Embedded Particles

Abstract

Embedded particles in rolling/sliding contacting surfaces like gears and rolling bearings are common. They come from either external contamination sources or final manufacturing process. In general they tend to be hard brittle particles that when overrolled they shatter and indent the steel surfaces leaving portions of the original particle embedded on the steel surfaces. In the present article their effect in the contact when sliding is present is analyzed, this includes the contact pressure, heat generated and contact temperature. It is known that in some cases thermal damage can be produced in the presence of these particles (micro-smearing or micro-scuffing). Here a model is developed and different particle materials and operating conditions are studied to determine when (from the thermal point of view) the situation can bring some risks.