Tribology of material contacts under dynamic loading, studied by electrical resistance measurement

The tribology of material contacts under cyclic compression in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the contact was studied by measurement of the contact electrical resistivity of the contact during the dynamic loading. The real-time monitoring allowed observation of both reversible and irreversible effects. The material contacts studied were those involving steel, carbon fiber polymer-matrix composite, cement mortar and graphite, due to their relevance to fastening, concrete structures, electric brushes and electrical pressure contacts. Correlation was made between the contact resistivity and the occurrence of elastic/plastic deformation at asperities. The interfacial structure was found to depend on the stress and the loading history.