Comparative analysis based on adiabatic shear instability for scuffing failure between unidirectional and reciprocating sliding motion

The principal goal of the experiments described here is to study the sliding motion effects on the scuffing life on the basis of adiabatic shear plastic instability. Experimentally we observed that the load capacity of the surface decreased and micro-scuffing initiated frequently under the reciprocating sliding motion as compared to under the unidirectional sliding motion. According to the adiabatic shear instability model, the scuffing initiation occurs when the rate of thermal softening exceeds that of work hardening due to plastic deformation. In order to ascertain the thermal softening in sliding surfaces, the contact temperatures were calculated. We found that the higher friction coefficient under the reciprocating sliding motion caused the higher contact temperature than that under the unidirectional motion. Therefore, the rate of thermal softening could exceed that of work hardening easily under the reciprocating sliding motion owing to frictional heating. We speculated that the scuffing initiation could roughen the sliding surfaces rapidly under the reciprocating sliding motion and confirmed that our assumption demonstrated above, was consistent with the experimental observation. In conclusion, there is a synergy effect in relation to scuffing failure because the frictional heating, surface roughening, and scuffing initiation function together to enhance each other, and consequently, the load capacity of surfaces could decrease under reciprocating sliding.