Study on thermal elasto-plastic contact problems with temperature-dependent properties

A thermal elasto-plastic contact model which can take into account the effects of temperature-dependent yield strength was developed by using finite element method. The influences of the steady-state frictional heat on the contact performance of surface asperities and subsurface stress distribution in contact bodies were investigated. The maximum contact pressure will be overestimated and the contact areas will be underestimated if the effects of temperature-dependent yield strength were ignored. Furthermore, the thermal effects on the contact pressure and average gap of real rough surface with different frictional heat inputs under the thermal elasto-plastic contact conditions were studied. The effects of temperature-dependent thermal expansion coefficient on stress distribution was investigated through the contact analysis of a rigid cylinder with a thermal elasto-plastic plane. The stress level of the contact body is higher relatively, and contours of the stress distribution expand to the boundary.