Acoustic emission-based monitoring of surfaces subjected to friction

Machine parts often contain components which experience relative motion during service. Relative motion between surfaces causes fatigue crack, wear and eventual surface deterioration. Acoustic emission based machinery condition monitoring is a method which can potentially be used to monitor the state of damage present on surfaces during service. This research deals with changes that occur in the characteristics of acoustic emission signals due to altering surface roughness and texture caused by friction loading. A test fixture was used to simulate friction between surfaces of comparable surface finish and obtain acoustic emission signals generated in the process. The different characteristics of signal waveforms obtained at different instances during the test were examined. It was shown that some features like amplitude and duration of the waveforms are sensitive to surface wear.