Thermal contact conductance modeling of circular-arc contact surface with mutation area

A thermal contact conductance (TCC) analysis model between circular-arc contact surfaces with mutation area is established in view of multi-scale and multi factor effects. The fractal characteristics of contact surface is described by the W–M function. Contact area and contact pressure in four states are analyzed by considering elastic, first elastic–plastic, second elastic–plastic and complete plastic deformation processes when asperities contact. Therefore, a method for analyzing and calculating TCC is proposed. In addition, the calculation of TCC in the process of the experiment of circular-arc contact surfaces with mutation area is introduced. The TCC of circular-arc contact surfaces with mutation area is analyzed by the research object. It can be observed that local high temperature occurs between the contact surfaces with mutation area. In addition, the influence of temperature, material, roughness and contact pressure on TCC is mainly realized by changing the real contact area. The change of TCC on the contact surfaces with mutation area is affected by the internal heat transfer law of the contact object. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation results, which verifies the accuracy of the theoretical modeling.