Determination of characteristics of fatigue failure of materials in sliding friction, part 2, periodic variations of the electron work function on the rubbing surface as a parameter of fatigue failure in friction

摘要

It is demonstrated that the electron work function during one period of its variations passes through a complete cycle of fatigue failure, from accumulation of defects in the crystalline lattice, the surface layer hardening nucleation and propagation of cracking, to the friction surface failure. The accomplished analysis of the periodic electron work function variations has revealed that they are reproducible and sustained, hence they can be useful for determination of fatigue failure in friction.