DIAGNOSTIC OF TRIBOMECHANICAL SYSTEMS APPLIED ON MOTOR VEHICLES

ABSTRACT
The central component of the tribomechanical system is the lubricant, whose most
significant function is the lowering of friction and wear appearing in the contact of two
surfaces in relative motion. As a subsystem, tribomechanical systems are integrated
everywhere into the technical systems. Apart from more significant applications in internal
combustion engines, transmission, and hydraulic systems, there is also a large number of
further applications. Due to the poor execution of the tribomechanical system or inadequate
application, if it is not fit for the given system, commercial losses may occur measured in
billions of euros annually. That is why the significance of the tribosystems is not only
technical, but also economic and environmental. The concept of the future successful
development endeavors to associate economy and ecology into a complex and noncontradictory
system.
Diagnostics of tribomechanical systems in motor vehicles is part of the overall process of
managing maintenance. It provides an opportunity for the user to predict the damage and/or
failure, and thus prevent delay in the work and extend usage life of motor vehicles. Recently,
special attention is focused on development of modern devices and methods for monitoring
condition changes of tribomehanical characteristics in systems. There are used today
different physical and chemical methods and tribology methods for tribomehanical system
diagnosis. Experience in technical systems exploitation showed that the most effective
failure prognosis is according to parameters, particles created as result of wear, which are
reliable indicators of wear. Analysis of oil samples which contain particles, created as results
of wear, enable evaluation of system tribology condition in different phases of system
exploitation. The paper presents the tribological tests in the analysis of oils that are used for
the assessment of this condition. Furthermore the results of experimental research of
tribological characteristics engines and power transmitters oil was sampled from engines
and power transmitters of vehicles Mercedes, PUCH and PINZGAUER, which were in use.
Investigations realized that there is a change of tribological characteristics of oil for
lubrication in the engines and power transmitters of vehicle. These changes are in direct
dependence on the state of all elements tribomechanical engines and power transmitters
system, and depending on their functional characteristics. Finally, is a conclusion based on
the realized testing?