CORRELATION BETWEEN MODEL TEST DEVICES AND FULL BEARING TESTS UNDER GREASE LUBRICATED CONDITIONS

摘要

This paper compares friction and film thickness measurements from a full-scale bearing test device and optical ball-on-disc results. The lubricants used were commercial greases with a range of base oil viscosities and thickeners formulated for high-speed applications. The bearing tests operated in the semi-starved regime over most of the speed range. The film thickness evolution shows the similarity in starvation curves, as well as the influence of the running-in speed, on subsequent runs. Indirectly the paper shows the influence of spin on relubric-ation and that lubricant reflow occurs primarily in the vicinity of the contact.