Study of Tribological Behavior From Friction Fluctuations in Pin-on-Disk Tests

Abstract This study aims to improve the understanding of tribological phenomena through an empirical investigation of friction fluctuations observed from pin-on-disk tribological tests, focusing on identifying the distribution of mechanical and internal energy efforts, as well as the accumulation and dissipation of energy within the system. Three steel samples, each subjected to different lubrication conditions, were analyzed: the first specimen was tested under dry conditions, the second in a water bath, and the third was coated with a solid lubricant film. The friction coefficient data from all three tests were processed using statistical methods and discrete Fourier transform to identify the oscillation frequencies and examine the dynamics of the friction profiles. The analysis of frictional fluctuations provides valuable insights into the distribution of mechanical energy in the tribological system.