Numerical Method of Analyzing Contact Mechanics between a Sphere and a Flat Considering Lennard-Jones Surface Forces of Contacting Asperities and Noncontacting Rough Surfaces

Abstract

A new numerical method of analyzing adhesive contact mechanics between a sphere and a flat with sub-nanometer roughness is presented. In contrast to conventional theories, the elastic deformations of mean height surfaces and contacting asperities, and Lennard-Jones (LJ) surface forces of both the contacting asperities and noncontacting rough surfaces including valley areas are taken into account. Calculated contact characteristics of a 2-mm-radius glass slider contacting a magnetic disk with a relatively rough surface and a 30-mm-radius head slider contacting a currently available magnetic disk with lower roughness are shown in comparison with conventional adhesive contact theories. The present theory was found to give a larger adhesive force than the conventional theories and to converge to a smooth sphere-flat contact theory as the roughness height approaches zero.