Simulation of Flow Wear in Boundary Lubrication Using a Vickers Identation Method

Abstract

The process of plastic flow of asperities in boundary-lubricated sliding contact was observed at successive intervals using scanning electron microscopy, and the Vickers indentation method was introduced to simulate the observed process. The characteristics of plastic flow of asperities during sliding contact could be estimated quantitatively by the Vickers indentation method. The Vickers indentation method showed that, below a contact pressure of 40 MPa, the flow rate increased in proportion to the contact pressure, and above 40 MPa, it became almost constant at 4.5 μm/10⁴ passes. With the increase in the sliding velocity from 0.25 to 1.09 m/s, the flow rate decreased from 2.4 to 0.3 μml;m/10⁴ passes.