The influence of inter-ring pressures on piston-ring/liner tribological conjunction

Abstract

The article proposes a mathematical model, which predicts the frictional performance of an internal combustion engine compression ring in the vicinity of the top dead center region. It accounts for the blow-by induced inter-ring pressures drop and for the cavitation region at the trailing edge of the contact. The model is used to predict the behaviour of both new and worn compression rings for wide open throttle operating conditions. It is shown that the wear of the ring profile increases the oil film thickness decrease the frictional losses and significantly reduces the extent of the cavitation region.

Keywords

Elrod cavitation algorithm gas blow-by inter-ring pressure piston ring lubrication tribology

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Anderson

. Vehicle tribology. In: 17th Leeds–Lyon symposium on tribology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK, vol. 18, Elsevier Tribology Series, 1991, pp.503–506.

Taylor

. Automobile engine tribology – design considerations for efficiency and durability. Wear 1998; 221: 1–8.

Taylor

. Engine tribology. In: 9th Leeds–Lyon symposium on tribology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK, 1982, vol vol 26, Amsterdam; New York: Elsevier, 1993.

Heywood

. Internal combustion engine fundamentals. New York: McGraw-Hill Science Engineering, 1988.

Namazian

Heywood

. Flow in the piston-cylinder-ring crevices of a sparkignition engine: effect on hydrocarbon emissions, efficiency and power. SAE Trans 1982; 91(1): 261–288.

Aghdam

Kabir

. Validation of a blowby model using experimental results in motoring condition with the change of compression ratio and engine speed. Exp Therm Fluid Sci 2010; 34(2): 197–209.

Rabute

Tian

. Challenges involved in piston top ring designs for modern siengines. J Eng Gas Turb Power 2001; 123: 448–448.

Eweis

. Reibungs- und Undichtigkeitsverluste an Kolben-ringen. Forschungshdte des Vereins Deutscher Ingenieure, No. 371, 1935.

Ting

Mayer

. Piston ring lubrication and cylinder bore wear analysis, part I – theory. Trans ASME, Ser F 1974; 96(3): 305–314.

10.

Ting

Mayer

. Piston ring lubrication and cylinder bore wear analysis, part II – theory verification. Trans ASME, Ser F 1974; 96(3): 258–266.

11.

Ruddy

Dowson

Economou

. The prediction of gas pressures within the ring packs of large bore diesel engines. Proc IMechE Part C: J Mechanical Engineering Sciences 1981; 23: 295C304–295C304.

12.

Kuo

Sellnau

Theobald

. Calculation of flow in the piston-cylinder-ring crevices of a homogeneous-charge engine and comparison with experiment. SAE paper 890838, 1989.

13.

Yang

. Friction modelling for internal combustion engines, PhD Thesis: University of Leeds, UK, 1992.

14.

Mufti

Priest

Chittenden

. Analysis of piston assembly friction using the indicated mean effective pressure experimental method to validate mathematical models. Proc IMechE Part D: J Automobile Engineering 2008; 222(8): 1441–1457.

15.

Chong

WWF

Teodorescu

Vaughan

. Cavitation induced starvation for piston ring/liner tribological conjunction. Tribol Int 2011; 44(4): 483–497.

16.

Jeng

. Theoretical analysis of piston-ring lubrication: part 1: Fully flooded lubrication. Tribol Trans 1992; 35(4): 696–706.

17.

Yang

Keith

. An elastohydrodynamic cavitation algorithm for piston ring lubrication. Tribol Trans 1995; 38(1): 97–107.

18.

Elrod

. A cavitation algorithm. J Lubric Technol 1981; 103: 350–354.

19.

Vijayaraghavan

Keith

. Grid transformation and adaption techniques applied in the analysis of cavitated journal bearings. J Tribol 1990; 112(1): 52–59.

20.

Roelands

CJA

. Correlational aspects of the viscosity-temperature-pressure relationships of lubricating oils, PhD Thesis: Technische Hogeschool te Delft, Netherlands, 1966.

21.

Dowson

Higginson

. Elastohydrodynamic lubrication: the fundamentals of roller and gear lubrication, Oxford: Pergamon, 1966.

22.

Teodorescu

Kushwaha

Rahnejat

. Multi-physics analysis of valve train systems: from system level to microscale interactions. Proc IMechE Part K: J Multi-body Dynamics 2007; 221(3): 349–361.

23.

Mishra

Balakrishnan

Rahnejat

. Tribology of compression ring-tocylinder contact at reversal. Proc IMechE Part J: J Engineering Tribology 2008; 222(7): 815–826.

24.

Houpert

Hamrock

. Fast approach for calculating film thicknesses and pressures in elastohydrodynamically lubricated contacts at high loads. J Tribol 1986; 108(3): 411–419.

25.

Eyring

. Viscosity, plasticity, and diffusion as examples of absolute reaction rates. J Chem Phy 1936; 4: 283–283.

26.

Chong

WWF

Teodorescu

Rahnejat

. Physio-chemical hydrodynamic mechanism underlying the formation of thin adsorbed boundary films. Faraday Discussions 2012; 156: 123–136.

27.

Chong

WWF

Teodorescu

Rahnejat

. Formation of ultra-thin bi-molecular boundary adsorbed films. J Phys D: Appl Phy 2012; 45: 115303–115303.

28.

Evans

Johnson

. Rheological properties of elastohydrodynamic lubricants. Proc IMechE Part C: J Mechanical Engineering Science 1986; 200: 303–312.

29.

Greenwood

Tripp

. The contact of two nominally flat rough surfaces. Proc Instn Mech Engrs 1971; 185(48): 625–633.

30.

Teodorescu

Taraza

Henein

. Simplified elasto-hydrodynamic friction model of the cam-tappet contact. SAE Trans 2003; 112: 1271–1282.

31.

Reynolds

. On the theory of lubrication and its application to MR beauchamp tower's experiments, including an experimental determination of the viscosity of olive oil. Philos Trans Roy Soc 1886; 177: 157–234.

32.

Stadler

Izumi

Morita

Sugimura

Piccigallo

. Estimation of cavity length in ehl rolling point contact. J Tribol 2008; 130(3): 315021–315029.