Running-in of plain bearings in start-stop operation

With an increased usage of automotive engine start-stop systems the demand for suitable engine bearings regarding wear resistance and frictional behavior is of growing interest. Low friction and wear for maximum lifetime are key requirements for bearings designed for automotive engine application. For lifetime estimations the wear during start-stop needs to be considered. This research focuses on the running-in behavior of plain bearings subjected to multiple starts and stops. Test results show that running-in leads to reduced friction losses with increasinn number of cycles. In an FHI-simulation annmach. the influence of surface modifications caused by running-in on starting friction is studied. The simulation results suggest that the reduction of friction and wear during the running-in period can be attributed to the wear defect growth in the contact zone.