Material Assessment of Mining Equipment Wear Components Through Hardness-Profile Evaluation: A Field-Based Case Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22146/jtrab.v3i2.33334Keywords:
Mining Equipment, Wear Components, Vickers Hardness, Hardness Profile, Abrasion Resistant PlateAbstract
Mining equipment operates under abrasive conditions that progressively damage wear components, which rate depends on operational factors. Consequently, reliable material assessment of such components is essential for maintenance planning and operation. This study investigates the hardness and through-thickness profiles of field-recovered wear components comprising a motor-grader cutting edge and two haul-truck dump-body liners. Multipoint Vickers hardness measurements were obtained across the cross-section of each specimen and converted to approximate Brinell equivalents for comparison with the nominal hardness ranges of commercial wear plates. The specimens exhibited mean hardness values of 271.67, 439.48, and 325.43 HB. The two liner specimens were consistent with known commercial hardness grades. Cross-sectional mapping showed that the abrasion-resistant materials used as wear components exhibited different hardness profiles. Through-thickness hardness testing, therefore, provides a practical approach to preliminary material selection and can provide supplementary information for service-life assessments when combined with actual wear rates or historical component change-out data.
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