Tribological investigations on the piston assembly group of a diesel engine

Mechanical and thermodynamical losses in internal combustion engines and the emissions resulting of lubrication oil are principally caused by the piston assembly group, which consists of the piston, the piston rings and the liner. A better understanding of the tribological processes is necessary in order to reduce fuel consumption, emissions and wear. At the Institute of Technical Combustion at the University of Hannover two measuring systems are developed for direct measurements of the friction forces of the piston assembly group and of the oilfilm-thickness between top piston ring and cylinder liner.