Finite-element heat-transfer analysis of a PEEK-steel sliding pair in a pin-on-disc configuration

Finite-element (FE) thermal models have been developed in order to study the temperature distribution in a sliding pair comprising a poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) pin and a steel disc in a pin-on-disc configuration. First, a moving heat source model for the disc was created. An alternative distributed heat source model was also produced in order to reduce computing time for the evaluation of the moving heat source model by some orders of magnitude. This latter model gave the same results as the moving heat source model, except for a small region just below the moving heat source. On the basis of the distributed heat source approach, a complete axisymmetric FE model for the disc side (taking the effect of thermal resistance between the assembled components into consideration) and a steady-state quarter model for the pin were developed. Water cooling and air cooling of the steel shaft were also compared. It was found that air cooling allowed a higher temperature in the contact region of the two sliding partners. The experimental results obtained with thermocouples and a thermal camera showed good agreement with the model predictions.