NUMERICAL-SIMULATION OF SLIDING CONTACT OVER A HALF-PLANE

Sliding contact of a cylindrical steel pin on an oxygen free high cond uctivity (OFHC) copper flat was numerically simulated and the results were compared with experimental measurements. The numerical simulation s were performed using EPIC II, an elastic-plastic, 2D finite element code which uses a Lagrangian formulation and triangular mesh. This cod e can accommodate very large deformations, large strains and high stra in rates without the need to remesh during the computational process. The simulation results showed that extremely large strains (epsilon(c) = 3-6) occurred in the contact area, however, these large strains wer e local, being limited to small regions adjacent to the slider. Very l arge deformations were evident on the contact surface where extrusions developed. The profile predicted in the simulation agreed well with t he experimental results, although the numerical analysis did not model the effects of the wear debris that was generated. It was demonstrate d that the EPIC code is able to simulate the severe conditions, namely large deformations,large strains and high strain rates, which are inv olved in sliding contact.