Acoustic signature identification of damage and wear mechanisms in a steel/glass sliding contact

Abstract

The tribological behavior of a steel/glass ball-on-flat contact was studied by synchronizing the friction measurements with an acoustic emission device and a vision system. The results highlight two distinct friction regimes identified with low and high friction values. Their transition is characterized by a modification of acoustic emission signals. In addition, two main damage and wear mechanisms are identified: the creation and propagation of Hertzian cracks visible on the glass surface and the constitution of an interfacial layer of debris. The different accommodation mechanisms, activated successively or simultaneously, are identified for acoustic emission frequencies between 300 and 700 kHz. Eventually, this approach allows a real-time wear mechanisms identification and gives better insights about acoustic emission signals in relation to tribological systems.

A review of advances in tribology in 2020–2021

“…Acoustic emission is another useful condition monitoring technique. It was used in a pendulum rig to model two-body abrasive wear [393], in monitoring friction and wear of journal bearings of geared turbofans [394], in state evolution identification of dry gas seal during repeated start-stop operation [395], in identification of damage and wear mechanisms in a steel/glass ball-on-disc sliding contact [396], in assessment of surface fatigue wear developed in the roller-bearing system [397,398], in investigation of galling wear in a semi-industrial stamping test and scratch test [399]. Surface acoustic wave measurement was utilized in in-situ detection of lubricant thickness in rolling bearing [400], and the eddy current measurement was applied to monitor the wear depth development of elastomer materials in a tribologically equivalent system for radial shaft seals [401].…”