Development of Corrugations on Surfaces in Rolling Contact

Abstract

The self-generation of corrugations on metal surfaces in rolling contact has been studied experimentally in a rolling contact disc machine and theoretically using a computer simulation. The system vibrates in the ‘contact resonance’ mode excited by surface irregularities. If the damping is low and the load high, the vibration may be severe enough to cause plastic indentation of the surface in one revolution which then amplifies the vibration in the next revolution. A stability map has been produced which indicates the ranges of load, damping and surface roughness for which corrugations would be expected to develop.