A discussion on the physical interpretation of measurements of tribological wear

Physical sense and practical significance of major measurements of tribological wear are analysed here. Definitions and methods of assessing these measurements are proposed on the basis of the laws of energy and mass conservation. Contributions of energy and displacement of particular friction forces corresponding to each element of a friction couple are addressed. Energy expenditure that causes wear is introduced into the definition of wear resistance. Planning and thermodynamic analysis of a tribological experiment and the application of thermodynamic concepts and quantities to the description and the interpretation of results are recommended. The author believes application of wear measures that have an unequivocal physical interpretation will limit problems with the incomparability and the irreproducibility of tribological results and issues with transferring them to real objects.