From the laser parameters to the tribological properties with COMSOL Multiphysics®

In this work, the authors compare two different approaches to obtain the topography of laser texturation. Their aim is to demonstrate their strengths and weaknesses when being used as input data in a fluid lubrication model able to take into account non smooth surfaces. The first method consists in including the height distribution stemming from topography measurements. The second is rather different and deals with the numerical predictions of the topography. Indeed, SIMTEC has developed a thermo-hydraulic model to quantitatively predict the shape of the laser crater. The output of such a model is a prediction of the topography.

The lubrication results obtained with the numerical predictions are presented, together with the strengths and difficulties of both methods.