SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 08 October 2013
STP156420120116

The Application of Sensors for In- Situ Measurements of In-Service Grease Rheology

Source

The in-service application of greases requires a careful consideration of the viscometrics of the fluid. Often this property is measured by the consistency of the grease using a cone penetrometer. This technique presents challenges related both to sample size and the suitability of this test for evaluating in-service grease performance. This paper describes the application of an on-line sensor designed for the measurement of lube oil viscosity to study grease fluid properties. Utilizing this in situ tool, the temperature effects of the apparent viscosity of the grease were studied. The temperature effects were evaluated in both static and dynamic environments. The study initially varied the temperature of the grease into which the sensor was immersed, and then progressed to placing the measurement tool into an operating environment to observe the dynamic response and viscometric changes of in-service operation. The non-Newtonian behavior of the grease provided a non-typical temperature–viscosity relationship. The conditions of dynamic flow also provided a measureable sensor response to give insight into flow mechanics and sensor placement for future measurements.

Author Information

Bupp, Evan
MRG Laboratories, York, PA, US
Wooton, Dave
Wooton-Consulting, Beaverdam, VA, US
Wurzbach, Rich
MRG Laboratories, York, PA, US
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Details
Developed by Committee: D02
Pages: 1–10
DOI: 10.1520/STP156420120116
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-7574-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-7550-1