Contact area in tribology

[afry]

Hello,

I would like to know what is the importance of the contact area between two bodies in tribology?
I am asking this question since the friction coefficient is independant of the contact area.

Thank you in advance

 

[chicopee]

... since the friction coefficient is independant of the contact area." Are you referring to the size of surface areas?

 

[afry]

Yes, that's right

 

[UconnMaterials]

afry,

The friction coefficient is mathematically independent of the 'apparent' contact area, but the 'real' contact area will influence the friction coefficient. You can see this effect by increasing the contact force during a wear test. As the 'real' contact area increases, more net force can be transmitted through the contacting interface, which results in the 'unlocking' of new energy dissipation mechanisms such as plastic deformation, phase changes, and fracture.

Uconnmaterials