Experimental methods for measuring the oil-film thickness between the piston-rings and cylinder-wall of internal combustion engines

Abstract

Computer models of the lubrication of piston-rings in internal combustion engines normally present an estimate of the minimum oil-film thickness between ring and cylinder wall as a function of crank angle. As a consequence, experimental measurements of film thickness play a critical role in the verification of theoretical models of piston-ring lubrication. A review is presented of the wide range of techniques that have been used to measure this important variable. The strengths and weaknesses of particular techniques are identified and a number of ways in which the techniques could be developed further are proposed