Deterioration modelling of contact surfaces for a friction drive system

This article presents a novel model of surface deterioration for a friction drive. For this basic transmission system, the difference between tangential speeds is linked with the production of contact force and at the same time with an energy transfer that deteriorates the contact surfaces. Thus, an optimal management between health state of components and use of energy resources is required. In a first step, the physics of the system is modeled in a deterministic way. Then, considering either random system parameters or random system inputs and usage, a complete stochastic model for the system deterioration is proposed. The developed model allows to link the deterioration evolution to the inputs and operating modes of the system; to assess the behavior of deterioration in critical stages, such as sharp motion and smooth motion. The advantages to design and to analyze such a model are finally discussed in terms of reliability-adaptive systems.