Prototype fretting device and some experimental results

The device presented in this work enables a conventional fatigue machine to be adapted so that it can be used as a tribometer. The DEMAFtrib (Device using Fatigue Machine as Tribometer) adds a second axis to a uniaxial fatigue machine in the form of an add-on accessory. It allows the measurement of wear and friction forces at the contact point of two surfaces in relative motion. The apparatus can also be used as a fretting-wear machine or a fretting-fatigue machine. This device can be used in mechanical-testing laboratories equipped with a fatigue machine and presenting a need to characterize materials under wear and fretting. A sample of study results on the wear and fretting of 7075 aluminium is presented as an application of the use of the DEMAFtrib in tribological and fretting tests.