The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether effective boundary lubrication could be distinguished from poor boundary lubrication using very high frequency (acoustic emission) vibration measurements. Successful discrimination would have significant potential for machine condition monitoring and for lubricant formulation and evaluation. A unique tribometer was used in which the conditions of lubrication could be rapidly and reliably changed from good to bad. Vibration measurements were made with a laser vibrometer. Preliminary results found a relationship between wear rate and the character of the high frequency vibration signals particularly in the 100kHz to 1MHz range.
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