Frictional Study on 30CrNi2MoVA Steel Based on Experiments and Finite Element Simulation: Wear Prediction

30CrNi2MoVA steel demonstrates excellent performance, meeting the requirements of a crucial material for high-load structural parts. However, after experiencing high loads and thermal cycling, the material undergoes wear on its contact surfaces, resulting in a certain wear depth that determines its service life. Therefore, accurately predicting and evaluating the wear performance and wear depth of this material is of paramount importance. This study employs a combined approach of experimental and simulation methods. Initially, friction and wear tests were conducted to investigate the wear behavior of the 30CrNi2MoVA steel. The experimental results reveal a significant influence of thermal cycling temperature on the material’s wear resistance, with wear mechanisms primarily attributed to adhesive wear and abrasive wear. Subsequently, a ball-on-disc wear model was established. Based on experimental data, the modified Archard model was implemented as a user subroutine in finite element software (ABAQUS version 2020) to assess the material’s wear volume. The simulation results demonstrate a close agreement with the experimental wear depths. Furthermore, a fitting formula was developed to correlate the wear depth of the material with the number of wear cycles, enabling accurate wear depth prediction. This study provides theoretical support for enhancing the performance and extending the service life of 30CrNi2MoVA steel.