Fretting fatigue and fretting corrosion are common types of tribological damage caused by oscillating contacts. The level of surface temperature generated by friction in the contact zone under these conditions and its effect on the fretting process will be studied. Experimental temperature measurements obtained by infrared microscopy will be combined with tribological fretting data and with relevant heat transfer analyses to formulate a model for the role of temperature in fretting damage. Effects of sliding distance and velocity as well as of oxide films will be included. The study will result in a better understanding of the fretting process and could lead to better guidelines for materials selection and development for fretting conditions.
