The real contact area between composite and steel surfaces in sliding contact

An anisotropic numerical contact algorithm has been developed for real composite-steel surfaces in sliding contact. The results were based on measured surface roughness data, under conditions of different fibre orientations relative to the sliding direction. The location of the real contact area at certain positions of sliding contact could be predicted. These results can be considered as input data for contact temperature calculations and wear predictions. An experimental evaluation of the real contact area was carried out by testing a composite pin under static compressive load against a gold-covered glass surface, resulting in an asperity-type contact condition. In another experiment, the composite pin was slid over the glass surface, which resulted in the removal of the gold layer along a certain path, characterising the nature of the real contact area interaction between the two surfaces. The results showed that the densities of contact spots are similar obtained by both the contact algorithm and the experimental techniques.