Evaluation of Abrasive Wear Behaviour of Mild Steel Under High Load Condition

The present study investigates the abrasive wear behavior of mild steel under high loading and sand abrasive particles using an abrasive tribometer. Experiments were conducted at a normal load of 12 kg and a sliding speed of 200 rpm to evaluate progressive material removal with increasing test duration of 5and 10min. The results reveal a continuous rise in weight loss with increasing sliding time, confirming the transition of mild steel into a severe wear regime. The dominant wear mechanisms were identified as a combination of adhesive and abrasive wear, supported by thermal oxidation and delamination processes. High contact pressure led to strong adhesive junction formation and rupture, while entrapped wear debris intensified ploughing and micro-cutting, producing deep grooves and surface discontinuities. Frictional heating contributed to rapid formation and removal of oxide layers, accelerating material loss. Overall, mild steel exhibited high wear susceptibility under heavy dry sliding conditions, demonstrating poor abrasive wear resistance and high specific wear rate.