Numerical Simulation of Contact Pressure Evolution in Fretting

Abstract

In the present paper an algorithm for frictional contact between two elastic bodies is presented. The algorithm is applied to the calculation of the evolution of contact pressure between two elastic bodies when material is being removed by fretting. To this end Archard’s law of wear is implemented into the algorithm. It is noticed that the calculated pressures after a period of fretting differ considerably from the initial Hertz type pressures. Further, it is noted that numerical instabilities can occur in explicit type wear calculations, and a stability criterion is suggested.