An experimental investigation of adhesive wear extension in fretting interface: application of the contact oxygenation concept

TL;DR

This study explores how contact oxygenation influences the shift from abrasive to adhesive wear in fretting interfaces, using experiments and a power law model to predict wear transitions based on oxygen levels and contact conditions.

Contribution

It introduces the contact oxygenation concept and quantifies its effect on wear transition prediction in fretting contacts through experimental validation and modeling.

Findings

Oxygenation decreases with contact pressure and frequency.

The oxygen-distance parameter correlates with wear mode transitions.

Power law model successfully predicts wear behavior based on oxygenation.

Abstract

This paper investigates the transition from abrasive to adhesive wear in gross-slip fretting assuming contact oxygenation concept which suggests that adhesion appears in the inner part of the interface if the di-oxygen partial pressure is below a threshold value. In the lateral sides, where di-oxygen molecules are sufficient, oxidation and abrasion prevail. To assess this phenomenon, 34NiCrMo16 flat-on-flat contacts are tested. Contact oxygenation is quantified using the ''oxygen-distance, '' parameter defined as the averaged width of the external abrasion corona. Confirming this concept, decreases with contact pressure and frequency but remains constant versus sliding amplitude, fretting cycles and contact area. evolution is formalized using a power law formulation which allowed predicting wear transitions for plain and macro-textured surfaces.