Wear science has historically relied heavily on observations of surfac
e features to elucidate the fundamental nature of wear processes. A ho
st of surface imaging techniques are currently available, each with it
s own set of strengths and limitations. This paper considers the appli
cation of scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) for analysis of wear dama
ge processes. Reflection-mode SAM images are produced by the interacti
on of focused, high-frequency (100 MHz-2 GHz) sound waves with solid s
urfaces, and contrast is produced by localized variations in near-surf
ace elastic properties. A powerful advantage of SAM is its ability to
probe subsurface regions where fractures and delaminations may be conc
ealed from the view of traditional light-optical and electron-optical
instruments. The current paper will describe the principles of SAM and
illustrate several of its uses in wear surface analysis; specifically
, as regards the imaging of elastic strain fields near single-point ab
rasion damage in silicon carbide, in elucidating the geometry of slip
line fields produced during friction tests of an oriented single cryst
al of stainless steel, and in studying the highly deformed layers of a
taper-sectioned intermetallic alloy of Ni3Al. SAM images are compared
with photomicrographs of the same worn areas to illustrate the streng
ths and limitations inherent in the technique.