Jun 16, 2010

A new ASTM standard will be useful to slide and engine companies, as well as makers of bushing materials, in studies that involve the measurement of system friction forces.

The new standard, ASTM G203, Guide for Determining Friction Energy Dissipation in Reciprocating Tribosystems, was developed by Subcommittee G02.50 on Friction, part of ASTM International Committee G02 on Wear and Erosion.

Kenneth Budinski, Bud Labs and a G02 member, says that the guide will be useful in testing because a single number can be used to describe the friction behavior of a reciprocating tribosystem and that number will include all of the system responses. The result is a greater discrimination in comparing the friction behaviors of candidate tribosystems.

“Advances in data acquisition systems allow great latitude in sampling and recording friction forces in friction and wear tests and it has become common practice to integrate the force history in a given test as a measure of energy expended in overcoming friction,” says Kenneth Budinski, Bud Laboratories, and a G02 member. “Traditional techniques for monitoring friction use averages and miss the short-term force excursions.”

Subcommittee G02.50 invites all interested parties to participate in its standards developing activities. G02.50 is currently seeking participants for a study on the rolling friction of automobiles using a modification of ASTM G194, Test Method for Measuring Rolling Friction Characteristics of a Spherical Shape on a Flat Horizontal Plane. “We believe that controlled tire/roadway friction can reduce worldwide use of gasoline by 10 percent with no change in driving habits or vehicle design,” says Budinski.

To purchase ASTM standards, visit www.astm.org and search by the standard designation number, or contact ASTM Customer Relations (phone: 610-832-9585; https://www.astm.org/contact/).  ASTM International welcomes and encourages participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.

ASTM Committee G02 Next Meeting: Dec. 8-9, in conjunction with ASTM Committees D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants, D03 on Gaseous Fuels and E48 on Biotechnology, Jacksonville, Fla.
Technical Contact: Kenneth Budinkski, Bud Labs, Rochester, N.Y., Phone: 585-225-6529; kenbudinski@hotmail.com
ASTM Staff Contact: Kathleen McClung, Phone: 610-832-9717; kmcclung@astm.org
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org

 Release #8596