Special use of the ball on disc standard test

A possible procedure is proposed, which basically refers to tribological variables commonly used in engineering screen tests and in principle allows extended use of experimental wear data from the ball on disc standard system when the reference configuration has different geometry (e.g. flat pin on disc pairs) or nominal sliding conditions. The method is approximated and has been conceived to simplify comparative analysis of wear behaviour, in particular at equal nominal pressure. Expressing the ratio of wear constants on the basis of geometrical experimental variables for sphere and disc, it also aims to reduce time consumption in profilometry sessions and to split real-time linear wear curves for mating members from the overall approach pattern. An experimental example illustrates the proposed procedure, although full validation needs additional testing.