Sliding Wear Analysis of Ultra High Strength Steel Using Full Factorial Design Approach

This study describes multi-factor-based experiments that were applied to investigate the sliding wear behaviour of quenched and tempered wear resistant steel. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of input parameters (such as applied load, sliding velocity and sliding time) on wear rate. Full factorial design through design of experiments approach was used for investigation by establishing an empirical relationship between wear loss and input parameters and determining the optimal combination of testing parameters for minimum and maximum wear losses. Sliding wear tests were carried out using pin-on-disc type apparatus at room temperature under dry sliding wear conditions. Detailed investigation revealed that applied load was the most significant factor affecting the wear performance followed by sliding velocity and sliding time. The maximum weight loss due to wear was found to be 33.48 mg when experimentation was conducted at maximum levels of input variables and minimum wear loss of 3.12 mg was obtained at the minimum levels of load, sliding velocity and sliding time. The scanning electron microscopy of the worn pin surfaces shows that adhesion and plastic deformation were the dominating mechanisms involved during experimentation that resulted in maximum wear of the pins, and on the other hand no such mechanism persisted when the pins were worn under minimum sliding wear conditions