Use of a dissipated energy approach to analyse the effects of contact frequency on the reciprocating sliding wear of non-lubricated DP600 steel against corundum

•The COF and wear rate exhibit a high dependence on contact frequency.•From 1 to 12 Hz, the wear rate increases steadily with sliding speed.•At 15 Hz or above, wear rate increases drastically.•The wear rate shows a directly linear relationship with the dissipated energy.•The oxidation process does not consume a considerable quantity of energy.

Friction and wear rate behaviour of dual phase steel plate specimens (DP600) sliding against corundum balls, as a function of sliding speed (0.01–0.25 m/s) and contact frequency (1–16 Hz), has been performed under bidirectional ball-on-plate (reciprocating motion) dry sliding wear tests where the plate specimen is studied. The wear mechanism is mainly oxidative. The coefficient of friction and the wear rate show not only a high dependence on the sliding speed, but also on the contact frequency which appears to be the key factor in determining the wear behaviour of DP600 even at a constant sliding speed. A thorough assesment of the wear damage as a result of energy dissipation due to friction at the interface is also carried out.