A note on the failure mechanisms of dry and lubricated sliding concentrated steel contacts

Some recent works imply that the failure mechanism of dry sliding concentrated steel contacts is the same as that of thin-film lubricated contacts. As this would contradict earlier views, some of the tests were repeated. The precise test conditions are outlined. The results in terms of friction--time diagrams are shown. Although there is a superficial resemblance between the lubricated diagrams and the dry diagrams, there are important and significant differences which are discussed.--S.K.B.