Abstract
The effects of magnetic fields on fretting wear of ferromagnetic materials were evaluated from observations of the worn surfaces and measurements of wear volumes. The tests were carried out in the sphere/plate contact at applied load of 6.1 to 65N. Steel sphere specimens (φ=19.05mm) were worn at the conditions of slip amplitude of 8 and 32μm and a frequency of 150Hz. Two levels of magnetic fields of 0.08 and 0.22T were generated using DC solenoids. The depth of worn surface of the plate specimen with magnetic field is smaller than that of without magnetic field. It indicates that fretting wear volume is decreased under the magnetic fields. The results can be explained by the following the magnetic fields modified distribution; the stress distribution on the contact area is modified by magnetic force and it leads the increase tangential shear resistance on the contact area, then the width of slip region is decreased, and finally the amount of fretting wear is decreased whole-slip state without magnetic field moves to the stick/slip state under magnetic fields.
