Tribological system modelling and simulation in metal forming processes

Recent developments in technology of forming require a specific analysis of the tribological system. Beneath the research and the exact description of the contact surfaces it is important to understand the tribological system. The characterisation of technical surfaces with traditional surface roughness parameters is insufficient to describe the tribological behaviour. To improve this inadequacy surfaces are described with fractal parameters and anisotropic surfaces are detected. Therefore all magnitudes are included, from longwave-form-deviation and level-deviation up to the structure of the material. The interactions between the surfaces in contact are explored from the nanotribology. Boundary friction, i.e. the combination of solid state and hydrodynamic friction, is important for metal forming. Phenomena like layering of the lubricant and stick-slip-motion have impact on the behaviour of the participating surfaces. Mathematical modelling of the nanotribological phenomena and the modelling of the surfaces applied to tribosystems of forming processes allow to visualise and optimise the tribological system. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.