• CN: 11-2187/TH
  • ISSN: 0577-6686

Journal of Mechanical Engineering ›› 2022, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (19): 148-165.doi: 10.3901/JME.2022.19.148

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A Review of Rough Surface Simulation Methods

WANG Yuechang1, LIU Ying2, LI Hongju2   

  1. 1. Institute of Functional Surfaces, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK LS29JT;
    2. State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084
  • Received:2021-09-14 Revised:2022-03-04 Online:2022-10-05 Published:2023-01-05

Abstract: Rough surfaces are ubiquitous in nature. Rough surfaces are often a vital input when studying surface-interface phenomena. Measurement and numerical simulation are two widely used methods for obtaining rough surfaces. Compared with measurement, numerical simulation can efficiently generate rough surfaces in batches based on surface feature information without expensive measurement equipment and much time. Surface simulation has a development history of nearly fifty years. Various simulation methods using various surface feature parameters have been developed based on different surface features, which are widely used in tribology research. Sorting out and summarizing surface simulation methods is conducive to the efficient and accurate application and further development of the method. Considering that surface simulation methods are closely related to surface features and their characterization parameters, to systematically review surface simulation methods, the feature characterization methods and characteristic parameters related to surface simulation are first introduced. Then, the principle, algorithm, advantages, and disadvantages of the corresponding surface simulation methods are sorted out with different characteristics as clues, suggestions for method selection are proposed, and their typical applications in tribology research are sorted out. Finally, the possible research directions of rough surface simulation in the future are discussed.

Key words: rough surfaces, numerical simulation, methods comparison, tribological application

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