Quantitative characterization of rubber three-body abrasion wear: multi-scale testing and analysis methods based on defect detection

Abstract Abrasive wear is one of the main causes of rapid deterioration of rubber serviceability. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain information on the degree of rubber abrasion and the wear mechanism. Due to the complex nature of abrasive surfaces, obtaining accurate information on rubber abrasion is often difficult and provides limited quantitative parameters. This study presents a method to quantify rubber abrasion through defect detection and analysis. Accurate and fast identification of typical abrasion defects is achieved, and in addition, macro- and microscopic characterization data are provided based on the distribution of defects to understand the degree of abrasion and the wear mechanism. Experimental validation demonstrated the fast and accurate characterization capability of the method, especially the advanced advantages at the microscopic level. The method achieves accurate and efficient characterization of rubber abrasion, which helps to advance the study of rubber tribological behavior and is important for guiding engineering applications and improving design.