Numerical simulation of abrasive wear using FEM—SPH hybrid approach

Abstract

In the article fully dynamic analysis of a special stand for wear measurements is presented. The analysis is focused on the dynamic interaction of lining samples rotating with high angular speed and counter surface, with the special attention to wear process. Typical approach to include abrasive wear in the numerical simulations of structure modeled in a macro scale is to use one of many semi-analytical wear laws. One of the most important phenomena accompanying abrasive wear, i.e., change of geometry of interacting surfaces is usually neglected. The main idea of the proposed approach is to merge meshless smoothed particle hydrodynamic (SPH) method with finite element (FE) model. The global model is described with FE, while surface layer, where abrasive wear takes place, is modeled using SPH. Owing this, it is possible to introduce sudden change of discretization level in the numerical model. Due to properties of mathematical description of SPH, simulation of abrasion with this technique is much closer to the physical phenomena. Proposed modeling technique is presented in the numerical model simulating dynamic interaction between samples of lining and counter sample surface of special testing stand. Due to very dynamic nature of abrasive wear process, explicit time integration scheme is used. Thermal–mechanical coupling and heat generation by friction forces are also included in the model. Rate of change of geometry of surface, as well as obtained temperature gradients proofs rightness of choice of explicit time integration scheme.