Contribution to perform high temperature tests (fading) on a laboratory-scale tribometer

The current research intends to make a laboratory-scale tribometer to perform high temperature tests (fading). Results from a full-scale brake dynamometer, which were run according to the AK Master standard procedure, are used as a reference. Firstly, operating parameters from both laboratory-scale and full-scale machine have been adjusted according to the theory of scale. Secondly, a good correlation between the thermal results from both machines has been aimed. For doing that, various factors have been tested in the tribometer: changes in the apparent contact area of the samples, thickness of the disk (4 mm and 6 mm) and the presence of thermal insulating on its back surface. Finally, friction results have been compared. Combination of the sample with diameter of 34 mm and disk 6 mm thick (insulated) provides the best thermal correlation. For this specific condition, the friction results produced from both machines exhibit approximately the same trends, mainly during the first half part of the stops. Apart from the stop number 15, a good correlation in friction magnitude has been encountered between both friction curves when a variability of 6% in coefficient of friction is considered for the dynamometer result. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.