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Mechanical Engineering vocabulary · Maintenance and Reliability

Wear

Meaning in mechanical engineering, with examples

/wɛr/nounCore term

In mechanical engineering, wear means: The gradual loss of material from a surface caused by friction, rubbing or hard particles during use, for example on bearings, gears, seals and cutting tools.

In Turkish: aşınma, yıpranma

How it is used

Used in maintenance, design and failure analysis. Parts show wear, wear marks or signs of wear; wear parts are designed to be replaced regularly. Engineers talk about wear resistance and about abrasive or adhesive wear. Wear and tear means normal damage from use.

Example sentences

  1. There is heavy wear on the gear teeth, so the gearbox needs to be opened.

  2. Chain wear is now above 3%, so replace the chain and both sprockets.

Common collocations

  • wear and tear
  • wear resistance
  • signs of wear
  • wear part
  • excessive wear
  • frictionThe force that resists one surface sliding or rolling over another. It causes heat and wear, but it is also needed, for example in brakes and bolted joints.
  • lubricationPutting oil or grease between moving surfaces, for example in bearings, gears and chains, to reduce friction, wear and heat.
  • spare partA replacement part kept in stock so that a worn or broken part can be changed quickly, for example a bearing, seal, belt or motor.
  • bearingA machine element that supports a rotating or sliding part, such as a shaft, and reduces friction between the moving surfaces. Ball and roller bearings are the most common types.
  • failureThe state in which a part or machine can no longer do its job, for example because it has cracked, worn out, leaked or stopped working.

More terms: Maintenance and Reliability

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