Pitting load capacity test on the FZG gear test rig with load-spectra and one-stage investigations

Lubricants in their combination of base oil and additive influence the pitting and micropitting load-carrying capacity of cylindrical gears. The aim of the FVA ‘Pitting test’ research project was to develop and establish a test method on the standard FZG gear test rig with a centre distance a = 91.5 mm. Two different test procedures were proposed, one using a load spectrum and the other a constant load. These tests can be used to determine the relative pitting load capacities of reference and candidate oils. From these results the pitting load-carrying capacity can be calculated.