In-situ X-ray tomography of wear – A feasibility study

Wear experiments using annular contacts were carried out to investigate the possibility of imaging wear scars and wear debris beds in-situ. Samples made of 6082T6 aluminium alloy were subjected to unidirectional wear under different conditions with the sample elements then locked in contact to preserve the end-of-wear condition. Post-wear 3D morphology was successfully imaged in-situ using X-ray tomography, with total depth of the wear scar, surface primary-profile roughness and real area of contact also obtained. This study is a proof-of-concept, illustrating the utility of tomography for studying wear, without the need to disassemble the contact or disturb the debris bed and serves as a starting point for a new approach to the investigation of wear phenomena. •X-ray tomography has been successfully used to image wear damage in-situ.•Post-wear surface roughness of Ra 20–40 μm was measured.•Results are comparable to traditional methods used in tribology.•Real areas of contact calculated were below 15% (below 5% in most cases).•Feasibility of using X-ray tomography in tribological studies is demonstrated.