On the optical microscopic method for the determination of ball-on-flat surface linearly reciprocating sliding wear volume

A simple approach for wear volume calculation by optical microscopic technique is proposed for ball-on-flat surface linearly reciprocating sliding wear. The depths at different positions of the worn out section are measured by focusing and defocusing from the flat surface of the sample. Length and width are measured by the movement of focused point along the surface. Image-J software is used to obtain best focused image by maximization of intensity. Measured depths are used to calculate wear volume using a modified geometric equation for the worn out section of the sample consisting of truncated cylinder with central flat bottom and double truncated spheres at two ends. The wear volume measurement is carried out for number of steel samples at different load values at a fixed frequency and it compares well with that determined by laser profilometric analysis.

► A simple and quick geometric method for calculation of wear volume is developed.
► Optical microscopy is precisely used for the measurement of parameters involved.
► Excellent match is obtained between current approach with the 3D LSP method.