Localised stress and strain distribution in sliding

Abstract

In this paper we present a comprehensive analysis of the contact mechanics and surface deformation associated with a micron-sized sliding contact, a critical process associated with abrasive wear. Using nanoscratch testing, we experimentally probe the surface deformation from a sharp contact. High-Resolution Electron Backscatter Diffraction (HR-EBSD) was used to characterise the stress and strain fields in the residual nanoscratch, in multiple planes. The experiments are simulated using a physically-based Crystal Plasticity Finite Element (CPFE) model, enabling a three-dimensional model that accurately captures the measured elastic and plastic strain fields around the sliding contact and allows assessment of the evolving deformation fields under load. This knowledge serves as a foundation from which we may be able to understand more complex wear situations and discern the multiphysical processes governing microscale wear.