Numerical Method for Determining the Real Contact Area of Contacting Bodies

Abstract

Analysis of the known techniques for simulating the surface microtopography indicates a substantial difference between the surface reliefs resultant from their application and real ones. In order to more accurately determine the surface microrelief, a numerical method is proposed making it possible to create a 3D surface roughness model ensuring accurate repetition of the relief of a real prototype. In turn, the resulting model geometry of the surface enables us to determine real actual contact areas and the relative positions of the protuberances and cavities of contacting surfaces. It is proved that the proposed method has advantages over known empirical dependences.