In the last decades, significant improvements regarding the design, materials and technology of rock drills have been made. Likewise, in sheet metal forming, forming tools experience very high contact pressures when processing high strength steel sheets. In both applications components operate under extremely tough contact conditions that result in an accelerated component failure. Enhancements on mechanical properties of components material subjected to extreme contact conditions are highly required in order to withstand the application loads and prevent severe wear. The present thesis was focused on understanding of machinery component damage mechanisms under severe contact conditions. A case study of worn components used in rock drilling and sheet metal cold work was carried out. Thread joints from rock drilling and punches from sheet metal pressing were selected for the investigation. For these components, sliding contact under high contact pressure is a common load condition under the components usage. Then, to understand and quantify the influence of contact parameters, load and surface quality on material performance, laboratory simulations were performed. The results were used for a comparative analysis of the typical damage mechanisms observed in the tests and the case study of the components. The case study results showed that the threaded surfaces underwent severe plastic deformation due to the high-pressure sliding contact. The microstructure beneath the worn surface was altered and surface cracks and delamination were frequently observed at the worn surface. The dominant damage mechanism found on the investigated punches was adhesive wear. Material transfer adds friction stresses at the punch surface and ultimately, with repeated punch strokes, it leads to initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks. Wear process in thread joint and punch wear was simulated using the SOFS. The worn specimens tested experimentally showed similar wear mechanisms obtained in the case study. The thread joint wear simulation showed that the total damage at the worn surface was a result of adhesive wear, plastic deformation, and initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks. In addition, the results showed that the type of motion had a significant influence on the worn volume and crack initiation, and more severe wear was observed at reciprocal motion. The punch wear simulation showed that the friction quickly increased as work material from metal sheets transferred to the disc surface. The rate of the material transfer was strongly dependent on the combination of sheet material and tool steel. Further, the present experimental simulations were applicable to characterize and predict wear of components in the application. / Components used in rock drilling and sheet metal forming operate under harsh contact conditions that result in an early-life component failure. Wear and fatigue are considered as the most common damage mechanism for these components. Commonly, the service life of a component is designed based on its fatigue life. However, wear might have a significant effect on the components life too. Wear results in a surface damage that in turn may cause a fatigue crack initiation. Therefore, knowledge about wear of materials and components is a key factor in design and prediction of the lifetime of the components. In order to predict wear of a certain component, a thorough understanding of the component with regards to its material properties, application loads and working environment, and damage mechanisms is required. The overall aim of the present work was to define the typical wear mechanisms occurred on machinery components used in rock drilling and sheet metal forming. A comparative analysis of the case studies and results from performed laboratory tests simulated wear mechanisms in the applications highlighted wear mechanisms and factors influencing severity of wear in the applications. Obtained information is crucial for ranking and selection of the best material in the applications. / <p>The presentation will will be via zoom. PhD student will together with the supervisors will be in Karlstad while the opponent is in Luleå. </p>

La qualité des pièces découpées pour les industries électroniques et micromécaniques est appréciée via trois critères principaux : le niveau de bavure, l’aspect du bord découpé et la précision dimensionnelle. Or, l’étude de la qualité des pièces découpées ne peut se faire sans une compréhension de l’usure des poinçons. Ainsi, des méthodes de mesure en continu et in situ de l’usure ont été mises au point et validées, soit l’activation superficielle et la mesure par double réplique. Ainsi, il a été possible de suivre l’influence d’un certain nombre de paramètres du procédé sur l’évolution de l’usure lors du découpage. Par ailleurs, nous avons mis au point une méthode de quantification de la bavure sur la totalité du contour découpé. Il a ainsi été possible d’étudier l’évolution de la bavure au cours de la découpe. L’aspect des bords découpés a été examiné grâce à des relevés topographiques permettant le suivi de son évolution. Ainsi, une corrélation entre la cinétique d’usure des poinçons et l’apparition de la bavure a été établi. De plus, une simulation expérimentale de l’usure des poinçons a été entreprise. Un dispositif expérimental de tribométrie a été conçu et installé sur la ligne de presse, simulant les conditions de frottement d’un poinçon sur une tôle. Il a permis d’évaluer l’abrasivité des tôlesminces vis-à-vis des poinçons. Par ailleurs, une modélisation numérique de l'opération de découpage par éléments finis a été entreprise, permettant d’approcher le profil d’usure d’un poinçon de géométrie cylindrique. Et par conséquent la possibilité de prédire son évolution en fonction du nombre de pièces découpées devient accessible en fonction des paramètres du procédé / The blanked parts quality for electronic and amicromechanical industry is assessed using threemain criterions: the burr amount, the appearance ofthe cut edge and dimensional accuracy. However, thestudy of the quality of the blanked pieces can not bedone without an understanding of the punches wear.Thus, methods for continuous and in-situ wearmeasurements have been developed and validated:Thin Layer Activation and measurement by doublereplica. Thus, it was possible to follow the influenceof process parameters on the wear evolution duringblanking.In addition, we have developed a method forquantifying the burr on the entire blanked contour. Itwas thus possible to study the evolution of the burrduring blanking. The appearance of the cut edges wasexamined by means of topographic survey for monitoringits evolution. Thus, a correlation between the kinetics ofpunches wear and the appearance of the burr has beenestablished. In addition, an experimental simulation ofpunches wear was undertaken. An experimentaltribometry was designed and installed on the press line,simulating the conditions of friction of a punch on onesheet. It evaluated the abrasiveness of thin sheets againstthe punches.Additionally, a numerical modelling of blanking wasundertaken to approach the wear profile of a punch ofcylindrical geometry. And therefore the ability to predictits evolution contingent on the number of blanked pieces becomes available depending on process parameters