MECHANISM-BASED MODELING OF FRICTION AND WEAR

Equations for ''predicting'' friction and wear that product design eng ineers can readily apply require new methods to develop. These include the following. 1. The planned cooperation of several technical discip lines. 2. The selection of a well studied system. 3. Parametric equati ons (models) for the observed friction or wear behavior, including all variables known by an interdisciplinary group. 4. Data that cover a w ide range (e.g. several decades) of most relevant variables. 5. Method s for adjusting parameters in the models to closely match the data. Th e results of three research efforts are discussed in terms of the pros pects for developing equations either by curve fitting the data or by describing underlying phenomena involved in the sliding process. Final ly, possible contributions of several technical disciplines toward mod eling the conditions for scuff prevention are suggested.