Initial sliding wear on piston rings in a radial piston hydraulic motor

The initial sliding wear of boundary lubricated piston rings used in a hydraulic motor is studied in terms of the changes in mass, form and surface roughness. The piston ring in a hydraulic motor makes an important contribution to high volumetric efficiency by properly sealing the cylinder bore and piston. The results show that the wear on the piston ring in this particular test rig takes place at the top of the asymmetric crowning at the outer surface contacting the cylinder bore. Initially, the roughness amplitude decreased rapidly, and had decreased by one-third after sliding 10 m. The dominant wear mechanism was mild wear. Abrasive wear also clearly influences the amount of wear.