gleitelement

Gleitelement is a theoretical construct used in tribology and contact mechanics to model a localized sliding region at a contact interface. It represents a small, discretized portion of the interface that carries part of the normal load and experiences relative motion with one or both contacting bodies. In simple models, a gleitelement is characterized by its normal force N, tangential displacement or velocity, and a friction response F_f governed by a defined friction law. A common approximation is F_f = μ_g N, where μ_g is a local glide coefficient. More sophisticated formulations allow μ_g to depend on sliding velocity, contact temperature, or state variables describing surface history, enabling stick-slip behavior and evolution of wear.

The element is typically arranged in an array across the contact zone, so that the aggregate frictional force is the sum over all gleitelement contributions. This discretization supports numerical simulation of frictional dissipation, traction distribution, and the onset of motion in sliders, gears, machining processes, and microelectromechanical systems.

Limitations include its status as an idealization that abstracts away atomic-scale interactions, three-dimensional surface roughness, and complex lubricant behavior. Consequently, gleitelements are valuable in theoretical and computational studies but must be calibrated against experiments to capture real material response.

Etymology: Gleitelement derives from the German gleiten, to glide, reflecting its role in modeling gliding contact. See also friction, tribology, contact mechanics, stick-slip.