Characterization and modelling of piston ring‐cylinder tribosystem microtopography in lubricated contact

A study of piston ring‐cylinder tribological behaviour under mixed lubrication mode is usually based upon data regarding surface contact magnitudes, fluid film characteristics and resultant mixed friction forces. The present paper introduces a Fisher‐Pearson statistical model to describe elastic deformation of piston rings and liners’ asperities in order to derive more realistic functions that represent the aforementioned functional quantities considering real surfaces of used and worn liners. The hypothesis that the microtopography follows Gaussian law overestimates critical contact magnitudes such as: minimum film thickness‐surface separation distance, deformed asperities supported load, number of contacts and contact area. Increased time of use and wear of liners decreases transverse geometrical anisotropy. Correction contact integral functions in cases of used liners’ surfaces may be calculated through surface profile measurements. Theoretical and experimental results are in good agreement for the configuration considered.