PSI - Issue 75

D. Jbily et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 75 (2025) 158–175 Author name / Structural Integrity Procedia (2025)

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Fig. 7. Representative 3D and 2D wear profile measurements at the dedendum of a REF gear tooth.

Fig. 8. Representative 3D and 2D wear profile measurements at the dedendum of a SP gear tooth.

4.2. Damage mechanism analyses by EBSD Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) was used to analyze microstructural changes in gear teeth, with a focus on grain orientation and deformation mechanisms in the surface and subsurface regions. Specimens were prepared using standard metallographic procedures, including polishing and etching, to reveal the underlying microstructure. Analyses were conducted using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with EBSD capabilities. This crystallographic technique enables precise measurement of grain orientation, allowing for the characterization of microstructural texture and preferred crystallographic orientation in the examined areas. Microstructural analyses performed in non-contact areas of the gear teeth along two cross-sectional planes (Fig. 9 Erreur ! Source du renvoi introuvable. ) reveal a distinct grain size gradient between the carburized subsurface layer and the core material, attributed to the thermochemical effects of the carburizing process.

Fig. 9. Illustration of the analyzed areas on the gear tooth

Fig. 10 Erreur ! Source du renvoi introuvable. shows an example of the microstructure in Inverse Pole Figure (IPF) imaging showing grain orientation at the core and in the subsurface near the surface of a REF tooth. It is noted