Modelling of non-circular discs as test specimens for gear analogy tests

This article presents a method for designing non-circular, disc-like test specimens for gear analogy tests. Initially, an overview of common tribometers is provided, classifying the new disc concept. The main section describes the modelling of the discs based on the law of gearing and principles of cam design. The variation of the design parameters enables modifications to adapt the discs for specific contact situations, such as adjusting the slide-to-roll ratio and distribution of the contact pressure. Finally, different variants of the non-circular discs and their respective design variables, along with initial test results, are presented to highlight the modularity of the new test specimens.