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A Computational Study of Elastomer Friction and Surface Topography Characterization using Fractal Theory

Seranthian, Kalay Arasan

Abstract Details

2016, MS, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Mechanical Engineering.
Elastomers, being soft and viscoelastic, when slid over a hard substrate, drape the surface roughness of the substrate and experience oscillating forces from the surface asperities of the substrate. The friction force thus generated is composed of two principal components, hysteresis and adhesion. The hysteresis component of friction depends on the surface topography, whereas the adhesion component is a surface effect and depends on the contact area. Also, when elastomers are squeezed against the substrate, they in general do not make complete contact everywhere within the nominal contact area. Thus, understanding the surface topography of the substrate and evaluating the real contact area are of huge importance to calculate the friction force generated accurately. This study uses Persson’s contact theory to calculate the real contact area. The study also uses two analytical models developed by Persson to understand the adhesion and hysteresis contributions to friction. The models are used to study the effect of velocity, load, surface roughness, and cutoff magnification on the real contact area and the adhesion and hysteresis contributions to friction. Once the major parameters affecting elastomer friction are understood, a finite element model is developed to study the real contact area when a rigid surface interacts with a deformable elastomer. The elastomer is modeled as linear viscoelastic material and the surfaces are modeled as fractals. The results from the finite element model are analyzed and compared with the results from Persson’s analytical models and the limitations of the computational model are studied. The results show that the finite element model is stiffer than Persson’s analytical model and over-predicts the apparent area of contact. Also, in this study, a single parameter based on Hurst exponent to quantify surface isotropy is proposed. The efficiency of this parameter is tested on numerically generated isotropic and anisotropic surfaces, and on Al 6061 surfaces of varying degrees of anisotropy. The results point out that the proposed parameter can differentiate isotropic and anisotropic surfaces, and measure the degree of anisotropy.
Kumar Vemaganti, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Woo Kyun Kim, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Yijun Liu, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
98 p.

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Citations

  • Seranthian, K. A. (2016). A Computational Study of Elastomer Friction and Surface Topography Characterization using Fractal Theory [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1468512374

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Seranthian, Kalay Arasan. A Computational Study of Elastomer Friction and Surface Topography Characterization using Fractal Theory. 2016. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1468512374.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Seranthian, Kalay Arasan. "A Computational Study of Elastomer Friction and Surface Topography Characterization using Fractal Theory." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1468512374

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)