Conditions for Scuffing Failure of Ground and Superfinished Steel Disks at High Sliding Speeds Using a Gas Turbine Engine Oil

Abstract

This paper describes the results of an experimental investigation to compare the scuffing performance of conventionally ground and superfinished hardened steel disks operating at sliding speeds of up to 26 m/s and lubricated with a gas turbine engine oil at a temperature of 100° C. The ground disks were finished in the axial direction to simulate the orientation of surface finish found on involute gears. Superfinishing was found to give a significant increase in the load at which scuffing occurred. Frictional traction was also measured in the experiments and was found to be significantly lower for the superfinished disks in the loading stages preceding scuffing failure.