PHYSICAL BASIS OF THE THERMAL INTERFACE B OUNDARY-CONDITIONS FOR AN IMPERFECT CONTACT BETWEEN 2 SLIDING MEDIA

In this paper is presented a theoretical analysis of the main physical phenomenons involved in the heat transfer processes between two slidi ng media (dry friction). It is particularly shown how the relative mot ion of the two media modifies the constriction phenomenon and how the generation of heat partially participates to the overall temperature d rop at the interface. This analysis shows clearly from the theoretical point of view that, to characterize the thermal boundary conditions o f contact between two sliding media, it is necessary to introduce two parameters as it was suggested by previous experiments (cf. RGT n-degr ees 204, Dec. 1978). These parameters are: a sliding contact resistanc e r(G) which is weaker than the contact resistance between static medi a; this resistance r(G) decreases as the velocity of the two media inc reases; a factor alpha which fixes the fraction of the heat flux gener ated by friction at the contact spots, and which participates in the t emperature drop at the interface. Finally, the obtained thermal interf ace boundary conditions confirms and generalizes those which have been previously suggested by the experiment.