Stress-textural indicators of tribological wear

The evolution of fatigue wear of the surface of gear wheels after tribological tests is studied. The gear wheels working in many mechanisms represent a system of co-operating surface layers, whose parameters have essential influence on the wear life of these elements. The structure of the surface layers is prepared (constituted) in such a mode so as to make the co-operating elements resistant to the working conditions: loading (value and frequency), temperature and lubricant used. The residual stresses and crystallographic texture of the contact areas of the co-operating surfaces have been studied. It has been found that the development of the state of the residual stresses is closely correlated with the fatigue wear process. Moreover, the development of a certain characteristic type {111}<uvw> texture component in the ferritic phase was observed. The intensity of this component increases distinctly at that phase of the fatigue process in which the wear of the elements surfaces is initiated. This component has been termed destructive and it may be an indicator of the advance of the fatigue process.