Abrasion wear characterization of some selected stone flooring materials with respect to contact load

Abrasion of stone flooring materials under the influence of foot traffic is mainly a function of the load exerted on them by fine solid particles. This paper presents a study of the abrasion behavior of some natural stone flooring materials when subjected to wear under varying contact loads. Abrasion wear tests were performed on a Böhme apparatus which is widely used in the construction industry for determining flooring suitability of stone tiles. Contact loads ranging from 100 to 500 N were applied for each tested stone material, while keeping the other operational parameters constant. In the case of carbonate stone materials, abrasion wear rate was found to be linearly proportional to the applied load. The granites, however, exhibited a non-linear abrasion wear behavior, not conforming to Archard’s well-known classical wear law. It was also observed that, in some cases, changes in the applied load could be an influencing factor in the ranking of flooring materials with respect to abrasion wear rate.

► Using the Böhme test, load–wear relationships of stone materials were investigated.
► Contact loads ranging from 100 to 500 N were applied for each tested stone material.
► Wear rates of the carbonate stones were linearly proportional to the applied load.
► At high contact loads, non-linear relationships were observed in granites.
► Abrasion wear rate ranking of some stones changed as a function of the applied load.