A stable cellular automaton model for composite materials with defects

Purpose As the internal defects (pore defect) of materials formed during the preparation of the composite material have important effects on wear process, the model has been improved to simulate it. Design/methodology/approach Materials with defects were simulated by an improved cellular automaton model which show changes in three-dimensional topography, temperature of surface and coefficient of friction (COF) during wear process. Findings It is found that defects increase temperature of material surface. Besides, the materials with little defects have a smaller COF than base materials, as the large block defects make the COF larger than base materials. Originality/value Except for effects of defects were simulated in model, how to initialize the surface temperature status that many reports do not take into account can be preferred. And the model is convenient to simulate complex composite materials by setting different properties of cells.