Mesoscale smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulation of seizure and flash temperature for dry friction of elastoplastic solids in a newly developed model

This study developed a simulation model using a smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method targeted to seizure process at the mesoscale. The mechanisms of wear, adhesion, and heat generation leading to seizure at the mesoscale were modelized without assumptions or theories based on empirical rules. In particular, we targeted on flash temperature during seizure process, which is difficult to measure directly in experiment and has not been simulated without using friction theory. Our model consisted of both a macroscopic elastoplastic consideration and a microscopic interfacial interaction consideration, and the heat generation scheme that 90% of the plastic strain energy is converted to heat energy were adopted in the model. The simulation demonstrated the seizure process in which the contact state is maintained by the strong interfacial interaction as the plastic strain progresses and the temperature rapidly rises. The flash temperature by the simulation provided a reasonable quantitative match at order level to a temperature estimated by substituting true contact area and interfacial heat flux obtained by the simulation into a theoretical formula of flash temperature. •Elasto-plastic materials with asperities: Developed a new simulation model using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method. Focus: Seizure process in meso-scale. Modelization: Mechanisms of wear, adhesion, and heat generation leading to seizure at meso-scale without assumptions or empirical rules. Target: Flash temperature during seizure process, not directly measurable in experiments and not previously simulated without friction theory.•Simulation revealed asperity contact maintained by strong interfacial interaction, including plasticity and abrupt temperature rise. Flash temperature of simulation quantitatively matched well with analytically derived temperature based on interfacial interaction energy and true contact area size. Heat generation model based on macroscopic plasticity, but plasticity triggered by microscopic interfacial interaction. Insight gained into flash temperature just before meso-scale seizure.