Matthijn de Rooij

Frictional behavior of carbon fiber tows: a contact mechanics model of tow–tow friction

Composite-forming processes involve mechanical interactions at the ply, tow, and filament level. The deformations that occur during forming processes are governed by friction between the contacting tows on the mesoscopic level and consequently between filaments on the microscopic level. A thorough understanding of the frictional properties at the level of individual filaments is essential to understand and to predict the macroscopic deformations of a textile reinforcement during forming. This work presents a contact mechanics modeling approach to provide a theoretical background of the frictional behavior of dry fibrous tows in contact with each other. The predicted frictional behavior is in qualitative and quantitative agreement with experimentally observed frictional forces of carbon fiber tows in sliding contact. The relative orientation of the contacting tows is of great importance for the developed frictional forces in the contact.

A full numerical solution to the coupled cam-roller and roller-pin contact in heavily loaded com-roller follower mechanisms

In cam–roller follower units two lubricated contacts may be distinguished, namely the cam–roller contact and roller–pin contact. The former is a nonconformal contact while the latter is conformal contact. In an earlier work a detailed transient finite line contact elastohydrodynamic lubrication model for the cam–roller contact was developed. In this work a detailed transient elastohydrodynamic lubrication model for the roller–pin contact is developed and coupled to the earlier developed cam–roller contact elastohydrodynamic lubrication model via a roller friction model. For the transient analysis a heavily loaded cam–roller follower unit is analyzed. It is shown that likewise the cam–roller contact, the roller–pin contact also inhibits typical finite line contact elastohydrodynamic lubrication characteristics at high loads. The importance of including elastic deformation for analyzing lubrication conditions in the roller–pin contact is highlighted here, as it significantly enhances the film thickness and friction coefficient. Other main findings are that for heavily loaded cam–roller follower units, as studied in this work, transient effects and roller slippage are negligible, and the roller–pin contact is associated with the highest power losses. Finally, due to the nontypical elastohydrodynamic lubrication characteristics of both cam–roller and roller–pin contact numerical analysis becomes inevitable for the evaluation of the film thicknesses, power losses, and maximum pressures.

The influence of stick–slip transitions in mixed-friction predictions of heavily loaded cam–roller contacts

A load-sharing-based mixed lubrication model, applicable to cam–roller contacts, is developed. Roller slippage is taken into account by means of a roller friction model. Roughness effects in the dry asperity contact component of the mixed lubrication model are taken into account by measuring the real surface topography. The proportion of normal and tangential load due to asperity interaction is obtained from a dry contact stick–slip solver. Lubrication conditions in a cam–roller follower unit, as part of the fuel injection equipment in a heavy-duty diesel engine, are analyzed. Main findings are that stick–slip transitions (or variable asperity contact friction coefficient) are of crucial importance in regions of the cam where the acting contact forces are very high. The contact forces are directly related to the sliding velocity/roller slippage at the cam–roller contact and thus also to the static friction mechanism of asperity interactions. Assuming a constant asperity contact friction coefficient (or assuming that gross sliding has already occurred) in highly loaded regions may lead to large overestimation in the minimal required cam–roller contact friction coefficient in order to keep the roller rolling. The importance of including stick–slip transitions into the mixed lubrication model for the cam–roller contact is amplified with decreasing cam rotational velocity.

Multi-scale contact modeling of coated steels for sheet metal forming applications

Friction in sheet metal forming is a local phenomenon which depends on continuously evolving contact conditions during the forming process. This is mainly influenced by local contact pressure, surface textures of the sheet metal as well as the forming tool surface profile and material behavior. The first step for an accurate prediction of friction is to reliably estimate real area of contact at various normal loads. In this study, a multi-scale contact model for the normal load is presented to predict asperity deformation in coated steels and thus to estimate the real area of contact. Surface profiles of the zinc layer and steel substrate are modelled explicitly obtained from confocal measurements. Different mechanical properties are assigned to the zinc coating and the steel substrate. The model was calibrated and validated relative to lab-scale normal load tests using different samples of zinc coated steel with distinct surface textures. The results show that the model is able to predict the real area of contact in zinc-coated steels for various contact pressures and different surface textures. Current multi-scale model can be used to determine the local friction coefficient in sheet metal forming processes more accurately.

A Mixed-TEHL Analysis of Cam-Roller Contacts Considering Roller Slip: On the Influence of Roller-Pin Contact Friction

In this work, a mixed lubrication model, applicable to cam-roller contacts, is presented. The model takes into account non-Newtonian, thermal effects, and variable roller angular velocity. Mixed lubrication is analyzed using the load sharing concept, using measured surface roughness. Using the model, a quasi-static analysis for a heavily loaded cam-roller follower contact is carried out. The results show that when the lubrication conditions in the roller-pin contact are satisfactory, i.e., low friction levels, then the nearly “pure rolling” condition at the cam-roller contact is maintained and lubrication performance is also satisfactory. Moreover, non-Newtonian and thermal effects are then negligible. Furthermore, the influence of roller-pin friction coefficient on the overall tribological behavior of the cam-roller contact is investigated. In this part, a parametric study is carried out in which the friction coefficient in the roller-pin contact is varied from values corresponding to full film lubrication to values corresponding to boundary lubrication. Main findings are that at increasing friction levels in the roller-pin contact, there is a sudden increase in the slide-to-roll ratio (SRR) in the cam-roller contact. The value of the roller-pin friction coefficient at which this sudden increase in SRR is noticed depends on the contact force, the non-Newtonian characteristics, and viscosity–pressure dependence. For roller-pin friction coefficient values higher than this critical value, inclusion of non-Newtonian and thermal effects becomes highly important. Furthermore, after this critical level of roller-pin friction, the lubrication regime rapidly shifts from full film to mixed lubrication. Based on the findings in this work, the importance of ensuring adequate lubrication in the roller-pin contact is highlighted as this appears to be the critical contact in the cam-follower unit.

Influence of suture size on the frictional performance of surgical suture evaluated by a penetration friction measurement approach

The frictional performances of surgical sutures have been found to play a vital role in their functionality. The purpose of this paper is to understand the frictional performance of multifilament surgical sutures interacting with skin substitute, by means of a penetration friction apparatus (PFA). The influence of the size of the surgical suture was investigated. The relationship between the friction force and normal force was considered, in order to evaluate the friction performance of a surgical suture penetrating a skin substitute. The friction force was measured by PFA. The normal force applied to the surgical suture was estimated based on a Hertzian contact model, a finite element model (FEM), and a uniaxial deformation model (UDM). The results indicated that the penetration friction force increased as the size of the multifilament surgical suture increased. In addition, when the normal force was predicted by UDM, it was found that the ratio between the friction force and normal force decreased as the normal force increased. A comparison of the results suggested that the UDM was appropriate in predicting the frictional behavior of surgical suturing.