Reibdauer

Reibdauer, in German tribology literature, describes the time during which frictional interaction occurs at a contact pair during a predefined operation or test. It denotes the duration of contact under friction, including the time surfaces are in relative motion (sliding) as well as periods of static contact where friction remains operative but no slip occurs. In practice, Reibdauer is used to characterize how long a component is exposed to friction forces within a process cycle or a wear test.

In tribological analyses, Reibdauer is linked to energy dissipation and temperature rise, since frictional work is the integral of friction force over time. Longer Reibdauer generally increases total frictional energy and can influence wear mechanisms and rates, especially in boundary or mixed lubrication regimes where heat is generated at the contact.

Measurement and estimation can be based on the motion profile and measured friction forces, or derived from wear tests by combining cycle counts with contact duration. In cyclic or intermittent motion, Reibdauer per cycle or per contact event is a useful descriptor for comparing different operating conditions.

Factors that influence Reibdauer include normal load, sliding speed, contact area, lubrication state, surface roughness, material properties, temperature, and the presence of contaminants. The concept is used in design, analysis, and optimization of mechanical systems to assess exposure to frictional effects and to model wear and energy losses.

Limitations: Reibdauer is a descriptive term rather than a universally standardized quantity, and its exact definition can vary between sources and applications. See also tribology, friction, wear, lubrication.