Abstract
It is demonstrated that the fractal characterization of wear particles morphology determined by the Richardson method is more sensitive to the wear status of the bulk material as compared with the 'slit island method'. Slight fluctuation in wear rate led to different profiles of the wear particles. Therefore, fractal dimensions have value as screening tools to predict wear performance and wear processes. Importantly, the tribological system can be promptly assessed by examining the fractal dimensions of the collected wear particles. Provided the fractal dimension of a wear particle resulting from abnormal wear status in a given tribological system is known beforehand, the possible damage to a frictional component caused by wear failure can be prevented once such a tracing particle is detected during practical operation through the quantitative description approach cited.