Quantitative Demonstration of Wear Rate and Dissipation Energy during Tension–Torsion Cyclic Loading of Steel Wires with Fretting Contact in Different Environmental Media

The wear rate and dissipation energy during tension–torsion cyclic loading of steel wires with fretting contact in different environmental media were explored in this study. Hysteresis loops of tangential force versus displacement amplitude (Ft-D) and torque versus torsion angle (T-θ), and their dissipation energies were obtained employing the self-made test rig. Morphologies of wear scars of steel wires were observed employing the white light interference surface morphology. The quantitative demonstration of the coefficient of cyclic wear of steel wire was carried out combining polynomial fitting, reconstruction of three-dimensional geometric model of wear scar and Archard’s equation. The results show that Ft-D curves reveal both decreases of the relative slip and dissipation energy in the order: corrosive media, deionized water and air. Increases of contact load and crossing angle caused overall decreases in the relative slip and dissipation energy, while the relative slip and dissipation energy both increased with increasing torsion angle. T-θ curves indicated the largest and smallest dissipation energies in cases of acid solution and deionized water, respectively. Increases of contact load, crossing angle and torsion angle caused increases in relative slip and dissipation energy due to cyclic torsional loading with fretting contact. The wear coefficient in cases of distinct environmental media decreased in this order: air, corrosive media and deionized water. Increases of the contact load, torsion angle and crossing angle all induced increases in the wear coefficient.