AN ADHESIVE WEAR MODEL OF FRACTAL SURFACES IN NORMAL CONTACT

A generalized adhesive wear model was derived for three-dimensional fractal surfaces in normal contact. A criterion for wear particle formation was derived based on the critical asperity contact area for fully plastic asperity deformation, taking into account the contribution of the adhesion force to the total normal load applied at the contact interface. The analysis yields a relationship of the adhesive wear coefficient in terms of total normal load (global interference), fractal parameters, elastic-plastic material properties, surface energies, material compatibility, and interfacial adhesion characteristics of the contacting rough surfaces. Numerical results of the wear coefficient of representative engineering material systems illustrate the roles of global interference and interfacial adhesion conditions (lubrication effect) in adhesive wear of surfaces in normal contact.