Asymptotic modeling of the long-period oscillations of tribological parameters in the wear process of metals under heavy duty sliding conditions with application to structural health monitoring

Different aspects of the long-period oscillations of tribological parameters in the wear process of metals under constant heavy duty sliding conditions are theoretically investigated on the basis of the previously constructed mathematical model. The obtained asymptotic formula for the period of oscillations agrees with the quantitative predictions known in the literature. The period of oscillations is suggested as a diagnostic parameter in assessing the health of operating tribosystem. An approximate formula for the phase of oscillations of relaxation type in the Lotka-Volterra nonlinear mathematical model is derived by the relaxation oscillation method. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.