EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF SCUFFING MECHANISM IN OIL LUBRICATED PISTON-RING/CYLINDER SLIDING CONTACTS

Experiments have been conducted to investigate scuffing mechanism in oil lubricated piston-ring /cylinder sliding contacts. Samples were extracted from actual components to simulate the real contact geometry and other influencing conditions. A standard test machine. with some modifications, has been used for the investigation of the effects of surface temperature load and sliding velocity. preliminary tests were carried out to find the critical temperature of scuffing using gradient temperature under a constant load, reciprocating frequency and stroke. The experimental and analytical results show that a transition from lubricated contact to adhesion, accompanied by the phenomena such as material transfer between the two sliding surfaces, local contact welding and temperature rise, and sharp increase in friction coefficient, appears to contribute to the final failure of scuffing.