Experimental investigation of frictional noise and surface-roughness characteristics

• Published in: Experimental mechanics Vol. 30; no. 4; pp. 328 - 331
• Main Authors: OTHMAN, M. O, ELKHOLY, A. H, SEIREG, A. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01-12-1990
• Subjects: Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Measurement and testing methods; Physics; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Sound level; Friction; Roughness; Acoustic emission; Measurement method; Rough surface; Experimental study; Acoustic method
• ISSN: 0014-4851; 1741-2765
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02321499

An experimental investigation into the nature of the noise generated when a stylus travels over a frictional surface has been carried out using several engineering materials (e.g. 1040 steel, Cu--35Zn, 1100 Al). The relation between the sound pressure level (SPL) and surface roughness under various contact loads was established. An acoustic device was designed and constructed to be used as a reliable tool for measuring roughness. For each tested material, it has been found that the filtered noise signal within a certain spectrum bandwidth contains a specified frequency at which the amplitude is maximum. This frequency was named the dominating frequency and was found to be a material constant independent of surface roughness and contact load. It was also found that the dominating frequency for a given material is proportional to the sonic speed in that material. Graphs. 9 ref.--AA(US).