Wear performance and mechanisms of H13 steels sliding against different Rock types

Abstract

Disc cutters are the main working tools of full-face hard rock tunnel boring machine (TBM). They are in direct contact with rocks, sustaining enormous loads and vibrations in practical constructions. Therefore, The wear of the disc cutters is very severe and would cause huge economic costs. In this study, the abrasive wear performance of disc cutters’ material (H13 steel) was analyzed by pin-on-disc wear tests in contact with three types of rocks (sandstone, granite and gneiss) under different loads (100 N and 200 N). The friction coefficient was recorded during the tests. The wear rate of H13 steel and maximum wear depth of rocks were calculated and measured. The worn surfaces of H13 steel were observed. Results showed that the friction coefficient, the wear rate of H13 steel and the maximum wear depth of rocks under the load of 100 N was lower than those of 200 N. The main wear mechanism of H13 steel in contact with sandstone was three-body wear, while the main wear mechanism of H13 steel in contact with high-strength rocks (granite and gneiss) was abrasive wear. The study of wear performance and mechanisms of H13 steels sliding against different rock types would provide theoretical supports for the construction of TBM under various geological conditions.