Friction and Temperature in Rolling Sliding Contacts

Abstract

The importance of surface temperature in disk and gear lubrication is well established so the methods to measure it need study. It is shown that a trailing thermocouple is liable to error. The oil film thickness in an Amsler disk machine as measured by voltage discharge is found to agree excellently with theory, providing the correct surface temperatures are used to obtain the oil viscosity. Next the effects of speed, load, viscosity, and surface finish on friction are studied. An empirical relation relating these measurements, as well as all other published data, is presented.