One-dimensional model of inhomogeneous shear in sliding

The paper briefly describes a one-dimensional dynamic model of plastic shear deformation in a material surface layer in sliding friction, giving grounds to the reduction of the problem dimension from 3D to 1D. A selection of simulation results is presented to illustrate the peculiarities of plastic deformation under the action of two competitive processes — work hardening and thermal softening due to frictional heating. Presented also are experimental data on which to base the conclusion on the possibility of surface layer flow similar to flow of a viscous fluid. To assess from the Reynolds number whether turbulization of the surface layer is feasible, simulation results are used.