Non-Linear Increase of the Real Contact Area of PMMA Blocks and the Related Contact Model

Abstract Many experiments have supported the contact models, such as the GW and MB models, but the majority of previous validations have been performed under light loads, resulting in a linear relationship between normal force and contact area. However, the real contact area fraction should never eq...

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Main Authors: Zhijun Luo, Kai Wu, Shaoze Yan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-01-01
Series:Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s10033-024-01144-z
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author Zhijun Luo
Kai Wu
Shaoze Yan
author_facet Zhijun Luo
Kai Wu
Shaoze Yan
author_sort Zhijun Luo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Many experiments have supported the contact models, such as the GW and MB models, but the majority of previous validations have been performed under light loads, resulting in a linear relationship between normal force and contact area. However, the real contact area fraction should never equal one; there must be a limit smaller than the apparent area, implying that the real contact area cannot increase linearly indefinitely. In this paper, the real contact area between two polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) blocks under heavy load is measured using the total reflection method, and the contact area is analyzed using the image processing method. The results show that the real contact area increases with normal load linearly in light loads but non-linearly in heavy loads; the number of contact spots increases with load linearly in light loads but also non-linearly in heavy loads, synchronous with the change in the real contact area. The GW, MB, and Zhao, Maietta, and Chang (ZMC) models were used to predict the experiment results, but none of them predicted the non-linear stage. A revised GW model based on the bulk deformation hypothesis performs better in predicting the non-linear stage. The study’s findings can be applied to PMMA or other similar materials, and they can serve as a useful reference for future research on the contact mechanisms of other materials.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2192-8258
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher SpringerOpen
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spelling doaj-art-7942071daa9f4fc8bdaa2d16f562b3952025-01-19T12:12:55ZengSpringerOpenChinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering2192-82582025-01-0138111210.1186/s10033-024-01144-zNon-Linear Increase of the Real Contact Area of PMMA Blocks and the Related Contact ModelZhijun Luo0Kai Wu1Shaoze Yan2Key Laboratory of Tribology in Advanced Equipment, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityChina Academy of Launch Vehicle TechnologyKey Laboratory of Tribology in Advanced Equipment, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityAbstract Many experiments have supported the contact models, such as the GW and MB models, but the majority of previous validations have been performed under light loads, resulting in a linear relationship between normal force and contact area. However, the real contact area fraction should never equal one; there must be a limit smaller than the apparent area, implying that the real contact area cannot increase linearly indefinitely. In this paper, the real contact area between two polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) blocks under heavy load is measured using the total reflection method, and the contact area is analyzed using the image processing method. The results show that the real contact area increases with normal load linearly in light loads but non-linearly in heavy loads; the number of contact spots increases with load linearly in light loads but also non-linearly in heavy loads, synchronous with the change in the real contact area. The GW, MB, and Zhao, Maietta, and Chang (ZMC) models were used to predict the experiment results, but none of them predicted the non-linear stage. A revised GW model based on the bulk deformation hypothesis performs better in predicting the non-linear stage. The study’s findings can be applied to PMMA or other similar materials, and they can serve as a useful reference for future research on the contact mechanisms of other materials.https://doi.org/10.1186/s10033-024-01144-zReal contact areaGW modelMB modelTotal reflectionNon-linear increase
spellingShingle Zhijun Luo
Kai Wu
Shaoze Yan
Non-Linear Increase of the Real Contact Area of PMMA Blocks and the Related Contact Model
Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Real contact area
GW model
MB model
Total reflection
Non-linear increase
title Non-Linear Increase of the Real Contact Area of PMMA Blocks and the Related Contact Model
title_full Non-Linear Increase of the Real Contact Area of PMMA Blocks and the Related Contact Model
title_fullStr Non-Linear Increase of the Real Contact Area of PMMA Blocks and the Related Contact Model
title_full_unstemmed Non-Linear Increase of the Real Contact Area of PMMA Blocks and the Related Contact Model
title_short Non-Linear Increase of the Real Contact Area of PMMA Blocks and the Related Contact Model
title_sort non linear increase of the real contact area of pmma blocks and the related contact model
topic Real contact area
GW model
MB model
Total reflection
Non-linear increase
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s10033-024-01144-z
work_keys_str_mv AT zhijunluo nonlinearincreaseoftherealcontactareaofpmmablocksandtherelatedcontactmodel
AT kaiwu nonlinearincreaseoftherealcontactareaofpmmablocksandtherelatedcontactmodel
AT shaozeyan nonlinearincreaseoftherealcontactareaofpmmablocksandtherelatedcontactmodel