A method for calculating boundary friction and wear

Starting from a rigid-plastic model of asperity sliding, a finite element model of elastoplastic asperity sliding is developed. Its results are encapsulated in closed form correlations with non-dimensional groups selected on the basis of the rigid-plastic solution. This permits friction and wear coefficients to be predicted for some simple sliding contacts using techniques of surface characterisation previously used successfully to predict friction. The predictions compare well with experimental measurements, and illustrate the relative importance of different parameters, surface texture, mechanical properties, and the nature of the third body, on the friction and wear of the contact. An easy to use software package allows the model to be applied to a wide range of contacts to estimate the influence of different parameters on their friction and wear.