THE IMPACT OF SELECTED PARAMETERS ON PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION IN THE FACE THROTTLE OF A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP AUTOMATIC BALANCING DEVICE

Face throttles are a necessary functional element of non-contact face seals and automatic balancing devices of centrifugal pumps of different constructions. To calculate the hydrodynamic forces and moments acting on the rotor and fluid flow through the automatic balancing device, it is necessary to know the pressure distribution in the cylindrical and face throttle when considering all important factors which predetermine fluid flow. The face throttle surfaces are moving, which leads to unsteady fluid flow. The movement of the walls of the face throttle causes an additional circumferential and radial flow, which subsequently leads to the additional hydrodynamic pressure components. The paper analyses viscous incompressible fluid flow in the face throttle of an automatic balancing device taking into account the axial and angular displacements of throttle’s surfaces and the inertia component of the fluid. The effect of local hydraulic losses as well as random changes in the coefficients of local hydraulic resistance at the inlet and outlet of the throttle is analysed.

A GEOMETRICAL SURFACE TEXTURE STUDY OF CYCLOID DRIVE DISCS AFTER BENCH TESTS

The article presents the results of a geometrical surface texture study of cycloid drive discs after bench tests. For this purpose, the working surfaces, such as peak and valley areas of the epicycloid and the holes inner surfaces of both discs, were investigated using contact profilometry. From each surface, a transverse profiles were extracted, before and after 50 cycles of bench test. The discs and the profiles were examined for signs of wear and roughness changes. For each profile, the Ra and Rz roughness parameters were determined. On the base of the obtained profiles and the values of roughness parameters, it can be stated that the assumed test parameters provide stable working conditions, with an uninterrupted lubrication film, which results in practically negligible and unmeasurable wear. Taking into account the operating specification of a helicopter winch as an example of potential application of the presented cycloidal drive, the developed solution fulfils the requirements concerning wear resistance.

EFFECT OF HUMIDITY ON TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF SELECTED FRICTION JUNCTIONS WITH AN EVALUATION OF ACOUSTIC EMISSION

The study aimed to compare the effect of humidity on the operation of tribological systems. The tested friction and wear are external properties; therefore, their values may differ significantly depending on the operating parameters of the friction junction and environmental conditions. Tribological tests were carried out on a TRB3 tribometer in a dry sliding mode at a relative humidity of 50% ± 5% and 90% ± 5% in the ball-on-disc configuration with a load of 15 N. The friction junction consisted of a sample made of 100Cr6 steel, and three counter-samples were made of 100Cr6, SiC, and Al2O3 steel. The geometric structure of the surface was examined with an optical profiler. The tribological test results showed reduced linear wear and friction coefficient at a relative humidity of 90% ± 5% compare to its 50% ± 5%. The paper also presents the results for the sound recorded in the 16-bit linear PCM standard and analysed in a Spectra-Plus program.

TESTING THE COBALT ION EMISSION ON THE STAND FOR DIFFERENT ANGLES OF POSITIONING THE COMPONENTS OF THE METAL–METAL HIP JOINT ENDOPROSTHESIS

The paper deals with the subject related to the assessment of the influence of the axis angle of the metal components of the hip joint on the emission of cobalt ions. The tribological tests were carried out with the use of a simulator for the examination of hip joint endoprostheses, the structure of which enables the fixation of endoprosthesis components in accordance with the anatomical structure of the human hip joint. During the tests, the simulator performs flexion and extension movements as well as loads occurring in the human hip joint while walking. Loss-wear tests were carried out for nine variants of the “head–cup” system settings. These settings were determined on the basis of CT images obtained from patients after arthroplasty. After the tribological tests were completed, samples of the lubricating fluid with the wear products suspended in it were collected in order to determine the concentration of cobalt ions, which was carried out using the atomic absorption spectrometry method. As a result, the influence of the head antetorsion angle (α) and the acetabular anteversion angle (β) on the concentration of cobalt ions was analysed.

CLASSIFICATION AND MODELLING OF SOUND EMISSION SIGNALS IN SELECTED TRIBOSYSTEMS

The paper presents an analysis of the sound level recorded during dry sliding friction conditions. Balls with a diameter of 6 mm placed on pins were made of 100Cr6 steel, silicon carbide (SiC), and corundum (Al2O3), while rotating discs with a height of 6 mm and a diameter of 42 mm were made of 100Cr6 steel. Each pin and disc system was tested for two values of the relative humidity of the air (50 ± 5% and 90 ± 5%). Models of the A-sound level were developed using regression trees and random forest. The paper presents an analysis of the accuracy of the models obtained. Classifications of the six tests performed on the basis of sound level descriptors were also carried out.

ON RANDOM EXPECTED VALUES VARIATIONS OF TRIBOLOGY PARAMETERS IN HUMAN HIP JOINT SURFACES

This paper presents recent progress in the knowledge concerning the stochastic theory of bio- hydrodynamic lubrication with a phospholipids bilayer. On the basis of experimental measurements and analytical solutions, the research concerns the determination of the random expectancy values of load carrying capacity, the friction coefficient, and synovial fluid dynamic variations. After numerous measurements, it directly follows that the random density function of the gap height in the human joint usually indicates a disorderly increases and decreases in the height. Such irregular gap height variations have an important influence on the random synovial bio-fluid dynamic viscosity. This finally leads to the friction coefficient and cartilage wear changes of cooperating bio- surfaces. The main topic of this paper relates to the expectancy values of the tribology parameters localized inside the variable stochastic standard deviation intervals of the human joint gap height. The results obtained finally indicate the influence of the random roughness and growth of living biological cartilage surfaces on the expectancy values of the synovial fluid dynamic viscosity, load carrying capacity and friction forces in human hip joints.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF CARBON NANOPARTICLES ADDITIVE ON SELECTED PROPERTIES OF LUBRICATING OILS

This paper presents the results of an analysis of the influence of the addition of various types of carbon nanoparticles on selected essential physical and operational properties of lubricating oils. Two selected oils, i.e. the mineral base oil without additives and the typical marine lubricating circulating oil Marinol RG 1240, were modified with the addition of shungite nanoparticles, graphite nanotubes, and C60 fullerenes. The mass fraction of modifiers was 0.2% wt for each of the additives. As part of the experimental tests, measurements were made of the impact of the above-mentioned modifiers on the change in the value of the ignition temperature of oils, the effect on the changes in the value of the dynamic viscosity coefficient in the aspect of changes of temperature and shear rate, as well as the impact on the changes in the friction coefficient and the size of the wear size scar. These tests were carried out on an EraFlash automatic apparatus for determining ignition temperature using the closed cup method, with a Haake Mars III research rheometer, and a T-02U tribometer with a four-ball head.

ASSESSMENT OF ABRASIVE WEAR RATE FOR PTFE-BASED COMPOSITES IN COMBINATION WITH STEEL

This paper presents a study of the tribological wear rate for PTFE-based composites in combination with C45 steel. PTFE composites with the addition of glass fibre, bronze, carbon fibre, and graphite were selected for the study. Tribological tests were conducted in a roller-block combination over an expanded contact area with no lubrication, using an SMC-2 machine. The study assessed the mass and volumetric wear for the test materials and the wear rate index. The highest wear values were noted for the PTFE composite with the addition of bronze, while the lowest was for the PTFE composite with the addition of glass fibre. For all the test materials, the formation of a polymer film on the steel counter specimen was noted.

THE INFLUENCE OF SYNTHETIC HYDROCARBON ON LUBRICATING PROPERTIES OF FUELS FOR TURBINE ENGINES

Recently, steps have been taken to introduce synthetic hydrocarbons to aviation fuels as biocomponents. This action is an innovative change in the approach to aviation fuels. This new approach to the assessment of fuel properties requires a revision of the existing criteria for their quality assessment, including those relating to tribological properties. In the requirements for Jet fuel, only the BOCLE test simulating continuous circular motion was used to assess lubricity. Research on the use of fuels containing components with highly differentiated chemical compositions indicate that the BOCLE test may be an insufficient criterion for assessing the lubricity of fuels for aircraft turbine engines. An additional HFRR test modelling the processes accompanying the reciprocating friction that occurs in some lubricated elements of the fuel system has been proposed. This article presents the results of BOCLE and HFRR tests on a range of Jet A1 fuel mixtures and various synthetic paraffin hydrocarbons. A preliminary analysis of the observed effect of synthetic hydrocarbons on the results of both tests is presented.

SOME COMMENTS ON THE INTERPRETATION OF THE TRIBOLOGICAL WEAR COEFFICIENT

An original model of tribological wear is presented, an alternative to the commonly used J.F. Archard’s model. The impossibility is established of a full conversion of mechanical work into the heat of dissipation and thereby of avoiding wear in the sliding friction of solids. The assumption is consequently questioned that only some contacts of surface asperities are subject to temporary wear. Material wastage is assumed to occur at each contact of asperities. The volume of worn material is dependent on the volumetric wear coefficient of the “energy dissipation zone” in friction. The dimensions of the zone are determined in both the elements in friction. Linear wear intensities and volumetric wear are described in analytical terms. The thermodynamic analysis of the tribological process indicates some limitations to these intensities. Energetic efficiencies of solid wear and heating as a result of friction are defined. Some new interpretations of the wear coefficient are proposed.