A linear thermo‐visco‐elastic creep model for the contact of nominal flat surfaces based on fractal geometry

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to construct a continuous model for the thermo‐visco‐elastic contact of a nominal flat, non‐smooth, punch and a smooth surface of a rigid half‐space. The considered model aims at studying the normal approach as a function of the applied loads and temperatures. The proposed model assumes the punch surface material to behave according to the linear Kelvin‐Voigt visco‐elastic material. The punch surface, which is known to be fractal in nature, is modeled in this work using a deterministic Cantor structure. An asymptotic power low, deduced using approximate iterative relations, is used to express the punch surface approach as a function of the remote forces and bulk temperatures when the approach of the punch surface and the half space is in the order of the size of the surface roughness. The results obtained using this model, which admits closed form solution, are displayed graphically for selected values of the system parameters; the fractal surface roughness and various material properties. The obtained results showed good agreement with published experimental results.