Combined Study of Damage and Damping Phenomenon in Coated Contacts at Ambient Temperature

Fretting damage occurs in mechanisms submitted to vibrations which result in small amplitude oscillatory sliding motion between surfaces. The damage is either crack initiation (fatigue damage) or wear, adhesion, transfer (wear damage) depending on displacement amplitude. Aircraft and helicopters design methods tend to lighten mechanical parts, thus increasing the vibratory levels generated by engines, aerodynamic flow or during taking off and landing phases. Higher displacement amplitude may cause a slip from fatigue oriented damage to wear dominant fretting modes, dramatically decreasing the structures lifespan.