An experimental study of the correlation between wear and entropy flow in machinery components

Based on first principles, a hypothesis was made on the potential correlation between entropy and degradation of machinery components in an earlier investigation of stochastic characterization of degradation dynamics. This paper reports on an experimental study in which degradation in the form of wear of model machinery component pairs was made on an accelerated testing basis. Concomitant measurement of entropy flow was made by means of a simple calorimeter. Results show a strong correlation between the referenced wear and the production of entropy flow.