ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the extensive topic of surface damage. Surface damage prevention is an important scientific and engineering challenge. Corrosion is the deterioration or destruction of a material because of a chemical reaction with its environment. Stress corrosion refers to combined condition of static tensile stress and corrosion. Static stresses hasten the corrosion process. Corrosion wear designates a failure due to chemical reaction on the surface of a part. Surface fatigue is a process by which surface of a material is weakened by repeated loading. Fatigue damage is produced when the particles are detached by repeated crack growth of microcracks on the surface. Prevention or reduction of surface failure is one of the greatest challenges to modern engineering. Material homogeneity in contact-stress applications is useful. Often, higher surface hardness reduces wear and surface-fatigue damage. Finally, attention is necessary considering the possibility of fretting failure when vibration is present in press or shrink fits or tight joints.
