The objective of this study was to formulate a theoretical model and to develop an efficient
and accurate solution method to predict the distribution of frictional heat and resulting
temperature rise for simple systems with sliding contact. The solution method
developed is a variation of the boundary integral equation method (BIEM) in which a
moving, full-space Green's function is used as the fundamental solution. The numerical
characteristics and limitations for the solution method are presented, as well as the
physical parameters that affect the surface temperature rise. The analysis includes an
arbitrary sliding velocity, with special focus on oscillating and unidirectional motion.
Since the real contact area is extremely important, the theoretical analysis has the flexibility
to handle any arbitrary contact area. Results are presented which display the effect
of velocity or Peclet number, the frequency and amplitude of oscillation, and
thermal properties. Also, results showing the effect of the number, spacing and orientation
of the contact patches are presented. Finally, theoretical calculations corresponding
to experiments involving a ball on an oscillating sapphire disk are presented
and are found to correlate well with experimental data.
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