Studies on the Influence of a Counterpart on Fretting Wear of Cold-Rolled High Strength Steel

This article investigates the influence of a counterpart on fretting wear of cold-rolled high strength steel for automotive applications. Fretting wear tests are conducted using a ball-on-flat test apparatus. The friction forces between cold-rolled high strength steel plates and various counterparts are measured. The worn profile of a cold-rolled high strength steel specimen is determined to calculate the wear rate. Experimental results show that the ratio of the maximum tangential to the normal force at a contact surface varies with a counterpart material. Measured worn surface profiles indicate that the cross-sectional area of a wear scar is enlarged as the number of cycles increases. The effects of counterpart hardness and the maximum Hertzian contact pressure are identified on the wear rate of cold-rolled high strength steel. From measurement and analysis results, ZrO2 counterparts are found to be more adequate than the commercial ones for the cold-rolled high strength steel rails.