1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 1 Finite element analysis of textured surfaces under reciprocating sliding Manel Rodríguez Ripoll * , Bojan Podgornik, Jože Vižintin Centre for Tribology and Technical Diagnostics, University of Ljubljana Bogišičeva 8, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Abstract Texturing of functional surfaces for engineering applications has steadily gain attraction in the last years as a technique for reducing friction. However, there is little knowledge of the contact behaviour of such surfaces. This paper analyses the loading behaviour of textured surfaces using the finite element method. The influence of texture on friction during reciprocating sliding is studied for different groove morphologies and loading conditions. Plastic deformation after twenty sliding cycles is evaluated in order to estimate the risk of failure of textured surfaces. The results are compared with simulations using untextured surfaces and are validated with available experimental data from the literature. Keywords: finite element modelling; contact mechanics; surface texturing; sliding friction 1. Introduction Surface texturing is a promising technique for improving the tribological properties of engineering surfaces. Arrays of dimples are deliberately created on surfaces by different techniques, which then act as reservoirs for lubricant, micro-hydrodynamic bearings and traps for wear debris. The contribution of surface dimples to the reduction of the coefficient of friction is reported in the literature by several authors. Kovalchenko et al. [1] showed a significant reduction of the coefficient of friction on pin-on-disk experiments at low sliding speeds. Ryk and Etsion [2] applied laser surface texturing on piston rings samples and tested them against cylinder liner segments under reciprocating sliding. The reduction of friction in front of conventional non-textured samples was of up to about 25 %. Rapaport et al. [3] showed that the technique can also contribute to wear reduction when using solid lubricants. They proofed using ball-on-flat tests that the dimples act as a source for solid lubricant, which * Corresponding Author. Tel.: +386 (0)1 4771 467; Fax: +386 (0)1 4771 469 E-mail: manel.rodriguez@ctd.uni-lj.si (Manel Rodríguez Ripoll) *Manuscript Click here to view linked References