Elasto-plastic contact of rough surfaces: a mixed-lubrication model for the textured surface analysis

An improved asperity contact model for two rough surfaces with misalignment is presented in this study. The contact model is statistical and can account for the elasto-plastic behavior of interacting asperities. By combining the improved asperity contact model and the average flow Reynolds equation together, a mixed-lubrication model is developed to understand the effect of surface texturing. By comparing with the results of the purely elastic asperity contact model, it is found that the improved asperity contact model can predict the contact force and actual contact area more accurately, particularly under high load conditions. Moreover, comparing with the elasto-plastic model with an equivalent rough surface against a plane, the improved contact model can consider the effect of permitting misalignment of two rough surfaces. This is beneficial for analyzing the performance of the textured piston ring/liner system, especially when asperities contact and wear happen.