Numerical analysis of the stresses developed during the sliding of a cylinder over compact graphite iron

In this work, the wear behavior of compact graphite iron (CGI) was studied based on a finite element analysis of the contact stresses developed when a rigid cylindrical indenter was moved in a single pass over a mesh representative of the microstructure of CGI. The software ABAQUS was used in the analysis and meshes were generated with the help of the OOF simulation package, developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The main parameters analyzed in the simulations were the diameter of the cylinder and the applied load. The finite element results were later compared with literature experimental pin on disc results with compact graphite iron discs. Good agreement was obtained when numerical and experimental analyses were compared. Both methods indicated that the contact stresses result in significant amounts of plastic deformation in regions close to the disc surface. Additionally, the finite element results allowed the observation of stress concentrations in the cast iron matrix, as a result of the presence of graphite flakes.