This research is for the Miami University Materials Tribology Laboratory that studies friction, wear, and lubrication between surfaces in contact. This project focuses on running baseline testing of automotive transmission fluids between clutch plates using a tribometer (an instrument that measures friction). The tests were designed to evaluate the effect of applied pressure and velocity on the coefficient of friction (COF) in friction plates. Tests were run in the tribometer for six combinations of transmission fluids and friction plates. The transmission fluids formulations used were Ford ULV (additives included), GM DEXRON VI (additives included), and PAO4 (no additives). The friction plates used were the BW1777 and BW6100 plates. Ford ULV and GM DEXRON VI were expected to maintain their higher COFs through higher speeds, while PAO4 was expected to have a lower COF through all the tests. The tests showed that the COF decreased with velocity for the higher two contact pressures, but was less velocity dependent for the lowest pressure. All fluids and plates acted as expected, meaning that the tribometer will work as a test bench for future transmission fluid tests. Currently, there are improvements being made to the tribometer. Once those are complete, the tribometer will run additional tests to evaluate how transmission fluid additives change the COF between the friction plates. This project provided insight on how much engineering goes into the formulation of transmission fluids and design of clutch plates for automotive transmission. It also gave additional experience in the design of experiments and instrumentation.
Author(s): Dane Miller
Advisor(s): 1) Mark Sidebottom, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering 2) Timothy Cameron, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
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