Analytical and numerical calculation of surface temperature and thermal constriction resistance in transient dynamic strip contact

In this paper, the problem of transient heat transfer in sliding contact is studied analytically and numerically. The heat source is represented as a uniform heat strip moving over a half-space with and without cooling outside the contact zone. The finite element method, implemented using a commercial code, was used in numerically solving this problem. An analytical solution taken from the literature was adapted to obtain the presented model and used to check the capabilities of the commercial code. After the validation of the resolution method, the work was completed by studying the influence of the Peclet number (source speed) and the Blot number (presence of cooling) on the temporal and spatial evolution of the surface temperature of the half-space. Finally, the transient constriction function is estimated and analyzed for the presented test cases. Correlations were also derived to (i) evaluate the time interval within which the steady state is reached, and (ii) estimate the constriction parameter as a function of Peclet and Biot numbers in the steady state case. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.