In technical applications, mechanical contact between machine parts or with the environment plays an important role. Typical examples are contact between tools and components (e.g., during forging, blanking or machining), between wheels and rails, or between balls and rings in roller bearings. The local loads at the contact points depend, among others, on the external loading, surface roughness, friction and lubrication conditions, and are extremely challenging for the materials with respect to (rolling) contact fatigue.

 

 

Our simulations aim at computing contact conditions and contact loads in order to derive measures for improving the contact conditions on the one and, and on the other hand to provide the basic knowledge necessary for enhancing the contact fatigue resistance of materials and for virtual testing of new materials.