Towards Static Contact Multiphysics of Rough Surfaces

This paper is describing the current status of ongoing work on developing a comprehensive modeling and simulation infrastructure capable of addressing the multiphysics behavior aspects of rough surfaces in contact. The electrical and thermal response of bodies in contact under the influence of mechanical load electric currents and thermal fluxes, is a topic of interest for many application areas. We are presenting a multiscale theory leading to derivations of expressions of electric and thermal conductivities for the case of static contact. The associated model contains both an asperity based comprehensive model as well as its continuum level coupling. The mechanical pressure and the repulsion effect from electric current through the micro-contacts as well as temperature and strain rate dependence of the plastic behavior of the asperity are accounted for as well. This formalism enables the derivation of physical properties from surface topography and bulk material properties for the interface between two rough surfaces in contact. Numerical analysis results present the dependence of the derived properties from the surface characteristics applied external load and the electric current.