Assessment of possibilities of testing the high power engine piston ring-cylinder liner collaboration on a model test stand

The design of piston rings for modern engines of low and medium power guarantees long reliable operation, thanks to proper selection of materials, suitable geometry of mating surfaces as well as the use of lubricating oils of appropriate quality. At present, the efforts of constructors focus on other aspects of operation of this kinematic pair. The aim is to reduce costs of engine run as well as improvement of ecologic indices (eg. by the reduction in lube oil consumption, reduction of friction losses through the reduction in ring number, and so on). There still occur failures caused by incorrect collaboration of piston rings and cylinder liners on engines of high output, especially the marine ones. Higher mechanical and thermal loads of crank mechanism elements as well as difficulties with supply and correct distribution of lubricating oil over the liner entire surface are among the causes of these phenomena. Because of limited measurement possibilities the research on correct collaboration of piston ring and cylinder liner could be quite difficult and expensive on a real marine engine. Such research could be carried out far easier on a model simulation test rig. The presented paper will deal with the question if the test rig purposed for the investigation of kinematic pair collaboration - property of the Combustion Engine Chair - is suitable for evaluation of collaboration of marine engine piston ring with cylinder liner in the presence of lubricating oil.