Combined experimental and numerical simulation of abrasive wear and its application to a tillage machine component

Abrasive wear of key components is a critical process limiting the lifetime of machinery for mining or farming. However, materials and process parameters are mostly based on empirical data since the underlying wear mechanisms in the field are not well known. In order to assess and predict the effects of abrasive wear on typical tillage machine components, the authors developed a combined experimental and numerical simulation procedure based on a time- and space-resolved version of the Archard wear equation. The applicability of the aforementioned procedure is demonstrated on a tooth of a circular harrow. The simulated worn geometry is in good agreement with the real geometry of a tooth worn in a soil bin.