Effect of oil supply on fretting wear

Fretting wear of lubricated flat steel surfaces (100 mm × 100 mm) was studied using a specially prepared test rig. The amplitudes of reciprocating sliding and the apparent contact pressure were 0.1–0.75 mm and 10 MPa respectively. The specimen surfaces were given various heat treatments and were mesh grooved for oil supply. Gear oil was fed to the sliding surfaces. Ungrooved surfaces gave severe fretting wear under the experimental sliding conditions used. However, significant reduction in fretting wear was obtained by grooving the surface. The effect could be obtained only when the spacing between the grooves was small, presumably because the oil was fed to the whole contact region owing to the smaller spacing.