FINITE-ELEMENTS MODEL FOR THE CONTACT OF ROUGH SURFACES

In this paper the elastoplastic asperity-based model for the contact o f rough surfaces is presented. The model adopts most of the basic aspe rity-based model's assumptions, introducing, however, a more realistic elastoplastic deformation law for the analysis of individual asperity deformation. The elastoplastic deformation of an individual asperity is numerically investigated by means of the Finite Elements Method, an d evaluated relations are combined with statistical description of the surface. The results were contrasted and discussed together with resu lts obtained from other models, as well as with experimental results.