Experimental and numerical evaluation of the mechanical properties of compacted wear debris layers formed between composite and steel surfaces in sliding contact

Microindentation experiments and non-linear FE contact analysis were used t o study the hardness of a CF/PEEK (carbon fibre/polyetheretherketone) polym er composite material in the presence of a transfer film layer (TFL). The l atter resulted from a sliding contact of the composite against a steel coun terpart. The TFL plays an important role in the load transmission, and it t herefore also affects the wear process. To study these mechanisms, requires reliable material data for the TFL. This study concentrates on TFL obtaine d at the beginning of a wear process on both components, i.e. the steel dis k and the composite pin for two different fibre orientations relative to th e sliding direction. Universal hardness values were evaluated from experimental load-depth profi les and their finite element analysis (FEA). The corresponding model contai ned contact elements that allowed prediction of the contact area, the conta ct pressure distribution, and the contact stresses and strains. (C) 2001 El sevier Science B.V. All lights reserved.