LAUSR

Abstract An experimental investigation on the fretting wear of Ti–6Al–4V was conducted using a self-designed test machine. The wear morphologies and the cracking phenomena of as-received and shot-peened specimens were comparatively analyzed by the combining the applications of a laser scanning confocal microscope and a scanning electron microscope. The results showed that shot-peening exhibited an increase in the wear volume during the early fretting wear period, while it reduced the material loss in the long-term fretting wear process. The dominant wear mechanism was transformed from adhesion/peeling to delamination in both the as-received/shot-peened specimens. The wear rates under the peeling and delamination mechanism was explained by the equivalent friction coefficient of the contacting point and the thickness of cracked surface layer. The optimal strengthening effect was obtained under a moderate shot-peening intensity of 0.3 mmA, which produced a proper curvature radius of asperity and a good combination between hardness and toughness of the surface material.