Prediction of surface features of wear components based on surface characteristics of wear debris

The recognition of wear condition in tribological system as well as wear mechanism in wear process mainly depends on the analysis of surface topographies of wear components. However, it is very difficult to access or analyze wear components which are in operation. It is well recognized that wear particles exhibit different surface morphology features in relation to the process of their generation. Therefore, it is possible to gain the surface information of wear components which are difficult to access or analyze, through studying the surface characteristics of corresponding wear particles. This project aimed to predict surface features of wear components based on surface characteristics of wear debris. The prediction framework has been proposed and presented in the paper. The analysis of feasibility has demonstrated that it is feasible to predict worn surface features according to the surface characteristics of wear particles.