A wearing energy model

Abstract

The classic sliding wear model, represented by Archard's equation, has long been used to estimate the service life of equipment and guide selection and modification of tribo-materials. However, the model was developed based on the asperity contact geometry without directly dealing with the wearing energy, rendering it unable to precisely describe wear under some conditions, e.g., it fails to predict wear of strain-hardened materials, which has never been clarified. In this study, incorporating with the plastic deformation-electron work function relationship, we reexamined and modified the classic model by taking account of the deformation energy consumption during wear. The modified model, or termed a wearing-energy model, is verified with relevant experimental observations.