Computational fluid dynamics analysis of top compression ring in mixed lubrication

Machine Design Laboratory, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece

^a Corresponding author: pnikolak@mech.upatras.gr

Received: 8 September 2015
Accepted: 17 March 2016

Abstract

The top compression ring design of an internal combustion engine has an impact on ring in-plane motion and its lubrication conditions at the ring-cylinder liner contact. In this paper, the geometrical dimensions of the top compression piston ring-cylinder system were obtained from an actual four-stroke motorbike engine. The top ring tribological behaviour was characterized by a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation including the effects of asperity contact. Based on the numerical solution of the Navier–Stokes equations and taking into account realistic engine running conditions, the effect of the in-plane top ring motion in quasi-static equilibrium was determined. The simulation model was validated by the numerical and experimental results of similar investigations of other researchers. Good predictions were achieved by solving the Navier-Stokes equations because the pressure gradient into the lubricant film was accounted for. The effects of ring curvature at the ends of the stroke were studied. The results show that a flatter ring profile has a sufficient minimum lubricant thickness at reversal points, showing reasonably lower boundary friction than that of the higher curvature. Higher heights of the curvature profile promote significantly mixed lubrication, in which the power losses and the burning of excess lubricating oil are increased. The proposed simulation model can be expanded to any set of compression rings where a minimum simulation time is required.