Paper 11: Capacitance Measurements and Oil Film Thickness in a Large-Radius Disc and Ring Machine

Abstract

This paper describes a large-radius disc and ring machine which was designed and built by A.E.I. and loaned to the Department of Mechanical Engineering in the University of Leeds. The machine was designed for the purpose of investigating the characteristics of oil films in nominal point contacts where rolling and sliding may be present. Preliminary results are presented for the inter-specimen capacitance for various running conditions. Some of the difficulties encountered in the interpretation of capacitance measurements for a machine of this type are described. Various ways of interpreting the results are explored. A method of dealing with capacitance measurements is described, which leads to a satisfactory agreement with theoretical predictions.