Study on the Correlation between Deformation and Tribological Properties of Soft Contact Surfaces

doi:10.3901/JME.260421

Abstract

Abstract: In response to the problem that the study of tribological properties of soft material surfaces lags far behind that of hard material surfaces, a friction counterpart surface consisting of the ceramic ball and the glass disk coated with a layer of polydimethylsiloxane (hereinafter referred to as PDMS) is constructed, and the correlation between the deformation of the soft surface and the tribological performance is investigated on the point-contact lubrication film measurement device based on optical interferometric technology. A high-speed camera is used to record the deformation behavior of the soft contact surface against the load, and the simultaneous measurement of contact diameter, indentation depth and surface contact contour line changes are realized. The results showed that the deformation of the PDMS surface is very fast after the load is applied, the deformation rises rapidly in 340 ms, then remains essentially unchanged and reaches a maximum value at the 300 s moment，and the deformation became smaller very fast after unloading, and basically recovered to the state before loading after 0.3 s. Under the dry contact condition, the friction force and real-time surface contact area were measured simultaneously with the change of speed and time, and it is found that the larger the real contact area was, the larger the corresponding friction force was. In the lubricated condition, the friction force was measured and the lubrication state of the soft contact surface is observed simultaneously. The results of the interferometric measurements show that it is always well lubricated and the surface deformation is reduced lubricated by calf serum, while the friction is very low and insensitive to changes in velocity. Under water lubrication, it is found that the surface is not adequately lubricated at low speeds, whereas the lubrication was improved and the friction is reduced when the speed is increased to 128 mm/s. This study would be like to provide a more comprehensive and objective knowledge of the tribological performance of soft contact surfaces, and be also of great significance for designing bionic lubrication materials with high-performance.

Key words: soft contact tribology, surface deformation, in situ optical measurements, friction, lubrication status

CLC Number:

TH117

YUAN Jinpeng, WU Jinlong, YANG Shuyan, MA Shuanhong, GUO Feng. Study on the Correlation between Deformation and Tribological Properties of Soft Contact Surfaces[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2026, 62(9): 268-280.

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URL: http://www.cjmenet.com.cn/EN/10.3901/JME.260421

http://www.cjmenet.com.cn/EN/Y2026/V62/I9/268

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