Tracking friction and steel surface texture evolution during progressive wear in rubber/steel contact

This study investigates the evolution of surface texture and friction in steel/rubber contact conditions, using laboratory-based wear simulations representative of rolling contact scenarios. Steel specimens were extracted from pneumatic metro rails and prepared with various surface configurations, combining grooved and non-grooved macrotextures with either original or re-shot-peened microtextures. Controlled polishing was performed using a Wehner-Schulze machine, while friction was measured across multiple wear intervals (up to 180,000 cycles) and speeds ranging from 20 to 80 km/h. In parallel, surface topography was captured using 3D optical profilometry, and 81 ISO 25178 parameters were extracted to quantify morphological evolution. highlight distinct phases of wear behaviour, marked by early transient adaptation followed by gradual surface stabilization. Friction coefficients were strongly influenced by initial surface texture and declined progressively with wear. Parameter analysis identified specific texture descriptors, particularly those related to peak morphology, material volume, and valley structure, as reliable indicators of surface degradation. In addition, the combined influence of grooved macrotexture and re-shot-peened microtexture was shown to act synergistically, accelerating early frictional adaptation while supporting more stable long-term tribological behaviour. The findings provide critical insight into the interplay between surface topography and friction under repeated loading. These conclusions are especially relevant for emerging applications such as the repurposing of disused railway infrastructure in France for personal vehicle use, where a clear understanding of tire–rail interaction is essential for safe and efficient implementation.