Microscopic study on the relationship between AE signal and wear amount

In order to establish precise in-process measurement of wear amount using an acoustic emission (AE) technique, it is necessary to investigate the relationship between the AE signal and the wear amount quantitatively. In this study, from a microscopic viewpoint using an atomic force microscope, we examined the quantitative relationship between the burst-type AE signal waveform and the quantity of wear elements generated at the elementary process of adhesive wear. As a result, it was found that the burst-type AE signal is detected at the generation of wear elements. And, there is a good correlation between the amplitude and duration of AE signal waveform and the quantity of wear elements generated on the worn surface. The result in this study corresponds to the result of our previous study that there is a linear relationship between the AE energy and wear amount under macroscopic adhesive wear.