An experimentally-validated DEM approach to modeling wear in pin-on-disk tribometers.
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| Title: | An experimentally-validated DEM approach to modeling wear in pin-on-disk tribometers. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Sameer, Muhammad1 (AUTHOR), Higgs III, C. Fred1 (AUTHOR) higgs@rice.edu |
| Source: | Tribology International. May2026, Vol. 217, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p. |
| Subjects: | Tribology, Discrete element method, Computer simulation, Material erosion, Model validation, Energy dissipation |
| Abstract: | Wear is a critical phenomenon influencing the performance and durability of mechanical systems across a wide range of engineering applications. Traditional wear prediction models, such as Archard's wear law, have been widely employed within continuum-based frameworks like the finite element method (FEM). While effective for certain scenarios, these models often fail to capture discrete material removal and wear debris generation, limiting their applicability to real-world tribological systems. In this study, we developed a discrete element method (DEM) framework to model wear behavior in a pin-on-disk tribometer configuration. The DEM approach enables modeling of discontinuities, material detachment, and wear debris evolution—features not readily addressed by continuum methods. To overcome the computational cost associated with explicit time integration, a wear extrapolation algorithm is used that allows for accelerated simulations. The large amount of extrapolated wear calculated for a particle subjected to wear is distributed among the neighboring bonded particles using a numerical distribution algorithm while preserving the physics of wear. The simulation results are validated against experimental data by introducing a calibration factor to align model outputs with experimentally observed wear scars on a hemispherical pin. The framework demonstrates strong agreement with experimental results, highlighting its potential for studying complex tribological systems while accounting for discrete wear phenomena. Notably, this study presents a unique, experimentally validated DEM framework for the pin-on-disk tribometer, explicitly accounting for particle wear and debris formation. • Particle-scale wear mechanisms in a pin-on-disk tribometer are resolved using DEM. • The approach captures realistic wear scar growth on a hemispherical pin under dry sliding. • Discrete material removal and wear debris generation are explicitly reproduced. • An efficient extrapolation strategy enables prediction of long-term wear evolution. • Simulated wear scar geometry and wear volume agree quantitatively with experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Tribology International is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 191008544 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: An experimentally-validated DEM approach to modeling wear in pin-on-disk tribometers. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sameer%2C+Muhammad%22">Sameer, Muhammad</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Higgs+III%2C+C%2E+Fred%22">Higgs III, C. Fred</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> higgs@rice.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Tribology+International%22">Tribology International</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 217, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tribology%22">Tribology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Discrete+element+method%22">Discrete element method</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+simulation%22">Computer simulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Material+erosion%22">Material erosion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Model+validation%22">Model validation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Energy+dissipation%22">Energy dissipation</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Wear is a critical phenomenon influencing the performance and durability of mechanical systems across a wide range of engineering applications. Traditional wear prediction models, such as Archard's wear law, have been widely employed within continuum-based frameworks like the finite element method (FEM). While effective for certain scenarios, these models often fail to capture discrete material removal and wear debris generation, limiting their applicability to real-world tribological systems. In this study, we developed a discrete element method (DEM) framework to model wear behavior in a pin-on-disk tribometer configuration. The DEM approach enables modeling of discontinuities, material detachment, and wear debris evolution—features not readily addressed by continuum methods. To overcome the computational cost associated with explicit time integration, a wear extrapolation algorithm is used that allows for accelerated simulations. The large amount of extrapolated wear calculated for a particle subjected to wear is distributed among the neighboring bonded particles using a numerical distribution algorithm while preserving the physics of wear. The simulation results are validated against experimental data by introducing a calibration factor to align model outputs with experimentally observed wear scars on a hemispherical pin. The framework demonstrates strong agreement with experimental results, highlighting its potential for studying complex tribological systems while accounting for discrete wear phenomena. Notably, this study presents a unique, experimentally validated DEM framework for the pin-on-disk tribometer, explicitly accounting for particle wear and debris formation. • Particle-scale wear mechanisms in a pin-on-disk tribometer are resolved using DEM. • The approach captures realistic wear scar growth on a hemispherical pin under dry sliding. • Discrete material removal and wear debris generation are explicitly reproduced. • An efficient extrapolation strategy enables prediction of long-term wear evolution. • Simulated wear scar geometry and wear volume agree quantitatively with experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Tribology International is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1016/j.triboint.2026.111675 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 1 StartPage: N.PAG Subjects: – SubjectFull: Tribology Type: general – SubjectFull: Discrete element method Type: general – SubjectFull: Computer simulation Type: general – SubjectFull: Material erosion Type: general – SubjectFull: Model validation Type: general – SubjectFull: Energy dissipation Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: An experimentally-validated DEM approach to modeling wear in pin-on-disk tribometers. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Sameer, Muhammad – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Higgs III, C. Fred IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 0301679X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 217 Titles: – TitleFull: Tribology International Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
