A comparison of relative displacement fields between numerical predictions and experimental results in fretting contact

In this paper, a comparison is made between calculated and measured displacements from a complete contact fretting test device. An experimental technique based on digital image correlation was used to measure the local displacement field at the contact interface. The material of the fretting specimen and pads was quenched and tempered steel. The effect of test device compliances and rigid body movement was minimized by measuring displacements very close to the contact interface. The measured displacements were successfully compared to the computed displacements of a corresponding finite element model. The relative slip amplitude in partial slip conditions, slip distribution across the contact, length of the slip region, and accumulated slip distribution, were compared. Relative slip decreases markedly with increasing normal load and friction coefficient. The friction coefficient was calibrated and determined as a function of loading cycles of fretting fatigue tests with two normal loads. The friction coefficient was found to increase at the beginning of tests and stabilize after about 1000 cycles, which is in agreement with general observations.