Gouging Phenomenon at Low Relative Sliding Velocities

摘要

Surface gouging by metals in high-velocity sliding contact has been observed formore than thirty years in engineering applications involving rocket sleds, two-stage gas guns, and electromagnetic railguns. The onset of gouging is usually observed to occur at sliding velocities in excess of 100% mIs (3821 ft/s). Previous investigations of the phenomenon have indicated that the gouging onset velocity is proportional to the yield strength and hardness of the materials involved. In this research, data from actual instances of gouging are used to develop a graphical, linear correlation between gouging onset velocity and yield strength of the sliding material. This correlation is extrapolated into a velocity regime below that in which gouging is usually observed and then serves as the basis for an experiment intended to produce gouges. In the experiment, gouges are produced on lead sheet at sliding velocities as low as 245 m/s (804 ft/s), well below those at which gouging had previously been reported and in a material never before reported to have gouged, confirming the validity of the extrapolation.