Use of equations for wear volume determination in fretting experiments

M. Kalin, J. Vižintin

Wear 237 (2000) 39–48.

Abstract

In every tribological application, the extent of damage or surface deterioration is of interest. There are several methods of evaluating the wear volume/loss, which can be roughly classified into weighing, topographical analysis, and 2D analysis by means of empirical equations. In tribological research where many specimens need to be analysed, a simple and fast procedure is desirable for wear volume/loss determination. Methods with time-consuming specimen preparation or measuring procedures are not appropriate in these cases. Sometimes, this is accompanied by very low wear volumes/losses, as is the case in most fretting experiments, which also limits the adequacy of some methods. The use of empirical equations is by far the easiest, fastest and cheapest way to obtain the wear volume in a tribological test, but it has one major disadvantage, i.e. its accuracy may be poor. In this paper we compare calculated values from three different equations with stylus-tip profilometry determination of wear volume, based on the results of a comprehensive study of fretting wear of steel and ceramics. The effect of different material combinations, amplitude of oscillation, size of the wear scar and lubrication on the accuracy of these equations is presented. Justification for the use of 2D analysis in terms of empirical equations in research with many specimens used and low-extent wear is discussed.

Keywords: wear volume, steel, ceramics, fretting

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