Finite element stress and thermal analysis of a composite fibre-matrix micro-system subjected to sliding metal asperity contact

The contact conditions between a composite pin and a steel disc were evaluated by both scanning electron microscopy and laser profilometry after different time steps of a sliding wear test in order to study the wear mechanisms. Based on the measured surface data anisotropic contact analysis was carried out to calculate the location of the spots building up the real contact areas. Parallel to this the real contact pressure distributions could also be determined assuming dry sliding conditions. Selecting an ''average asperity'' geometry, FE micro-models were created to evaluate the stresses, strains and contact temperatures using linear elastic and non-linear material models.