Computational modeling of surface phenomena in soft-wet materials

We consider the problem of extracting tribological information from experimental observations of contact with soft-wet materials. Particular attention is placed on simulating the response of two rotating cylinders of soft specimens placed in frictional contact, with a variable coefficient of friction dependent on the relative sliding velocity. The bulk behavior is modeled by means of a finite deformation viscoelasticity formulation, with constitutive parameters taken to be representative of hydrogels. We focus on the modeling of the surface behavior and employ a mortar-finite element contact formulation. Through a series of numerical studies, we demonstrate the strong sensitivity of the results to the choice of interfacial constitutive parameters. The difficulties of extracting such parameters using only experimental data and approximate analytical expressions are also examined. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Duke Scholars

Author John Everett Dolbow Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...

Author Stefan Zauscher Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materia ...