63. Wear Modeling Revisited Using Feedback Control Theory

Modeling of wear process is a valuable tool for optimizing and designing of tribosystems. Most of the models, empirical or analytical, have limited applicability. To overcome this limitation, a general procedure has been proposed irrespective of the type of wear. In this, communication analogy of mechanical system with electrical system is presented to understand the role of parameters in the wear process. The system so developed is converted into an equivalent block diagram. The blocks can be chosen as per the parameters, inputs or disturbances in the system. The block diagram is solved by using the classical control theory. In present paper, only few parameters like hardness, velocity, ‘third body,’ etc., have been chosen. However, other parameters like corrosive atmosphere, temperature, humidity, etc., can be added to the block diagrams as per the role played by them in the wear process. Wear is assumed to be a linear control system in this paper, but the nonlinearity can be addressed by using the available control system techniques. This paper does not intend to create or derive a new set of equations but provide a methodology for simulating a wear phenomenon under different working conditions, by adding a new block/blocks or input/ inputs. The methodology will provide a platform for the more complex problems, involving different wear mechanisms at given instant. Finally, some of the existing results, which are available in the literature, will be derived to validate the methodology.