Effect of Frictional Heat Accumulation on Damage Initiation of M50 Steel at Cyclic Sliding Contact

Key Points

• Damage initiation in M50 steel occurs under high frictional heat accumulation, leading to material failure.
• Increased frictional heat during cyclic sliding contact results in significant wear resistance degradation.
• Analysis across multiple testing conditions highlights the role of thermomechanical interactions in wear behavior.
• Understanding frictional heat accumulation is key for improving material performance in sliding contacts.