A New Experimental Technique to Measure Contact Pressure
A new technique to measure the pressure in a real contact is proposed. One of contacting surfaces is covered, prior to contact establishment, by a special gel. The contact closing removes the excess gel and, during a certain time interval, the contact pressure transforms the entrapped substance in an amorphous solid. In each point, the refractive index of this solid depends on the pressure acting during transformation. After contact opening, the reflectivity of this coating depends on the former contact pressure and it is mapped by aid of a laser profilometer and becomes an indicator of contact pressure. Theoretical considerations show that the gel must possess certain optical parameters for the method to work. Several experimental reported results offer a clear image upon pressure distribution in Hertz point contacts, end effects in finite length line contacts, pressure distribution between rough surfaces and indicate the onset of plastic deformation.