Development of a simulation assisted experimental ring-on-liner scuffing test methodology

This paper investigates a simulation-assisted experimental test method for analysing the damage mechanisms of scuffing in the piston ring-cylinder liner contact. The tests were carried out to recreate the operating conditions at the top dead centre of an internal combustion engine. Three different piston rings were tested under different load conditions. A simulation model was used to analyse the complex contact situation of the system in detail. The simulation model can be used to analyse the hydrodynamic pressure and the asperity contact pressure. Geometrically corrected scuffing limits can be determined therefrom. The results show that while the experimental results are indistinguishable, significant differences exist in the geometrically corrected scuffing limits and thus in the scuffing performance of the rings. • Simulation assistance enables geometrically corrected single-parameter tests • Simulation assistance is used to detect otherwise hidden experimental performance differences of piston rings • Minor lubrication rates are applied by aerosol lubrication