Transient thermoelastic contact of sliding rings with axisymmetric surface roughness

Many devices such as seals, clutches, and brakes involve the thermomechanical contact of rough surfaces in sliding motion. The asperity level interactions which are highly localized depend upon the thermal distortion of the interface and possibly the instantaneous overall shape of the sliding components. In this paper we present a boundary element method for the analysis of such problems: simultaneously, from the micro-asperity to the component level. The interdependence of micro-asperity and component level deformations is demonstrated via the transient thermoelastic analysis of sliding rings with axisymmetric roughness.