Study of electrical contact performance of slotted contacts for electrical connectors under fretting wear conditions

Fretting wear is the predominant failure mechanism in electrical connectors during usage. This type of wear adversely affects the electrical contact performance of connectors, primarily by increasing the contact resistance. Once the contact resistance surpasses the failure threshold, the connector ceases to function effectively. This study initially examines the pattern of change in the electrical contact performance of slotted contacts in electrical connectors subjected to fretting wear. Subsequent stages involve selecting specific contact components for vibration testing to monitor and record shifts in contact resistance and to analyze the causative factors at each stage of wear. Finally, by varying the vibration conditions, further tests are conducted to elucidate the relationship between the electrical contact performance of slotted contacts and the applied vibration stress.