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SwRI engineers provide rapid and cost-effective endurance testing and competitive engine evaluation.

Measuring Real-Time Wear in Operating Engines

For more than 40 years, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has used radioactive tracer techniques to make highly accurate and sensitive real-time wear measurements in operating engines. These capabilities are particularly important in light of the harsh operating and environmental conditions imposed on today's high-performance engines, in which performance as well as low emissions levels increasingly depend on close-tolerance operation with minimal wear. Using sophisticated instrumentation, SwRI studies real-time wear, detecting wear and wear rate changes instantly. Advantages of radioactive tracer measurement techniques include:

• Cost effective tests

• Repeatable measurements 

• Real-time wear data 

• Meaningful results for short tests 

• Easily measured transients 

• Identification of cause and effect relationships 

• Association of wear with specific design parameters, fuel and lubricant characteristics, and engine operating conditions 

Real-Time Engine Oil Consumption Measurement

	A wide variety of components, such as pistons, injectors, and crankshafts, are evaluated for reliability and their effects on fuel consumption, power output, and exhaust emissions.

SwRI, with more than 40 years of experience in engine, fuels, and lubricants research, has developed an innovative sulfur dioxide (SO₂)-tracer technique that permits continuous, real-time measurement of lubricating oil consumption in a wide range of diesel and spark-ignition (SI) engines.

The SwRI-proprietary, real-time oil consumption (RTOC) technique has evolved into a reliable and sensitive instrument for research and development applications. Designated as the RTOC-III™ apparatus, the sophisticated SO₂-tracer system offers several advantages over other methods, including:

• Reduced test duration.
  Oil consumption for one operating condition, typically acquired in 8 minutes, allows real-time data for a 21-point, steady-state map to be generated within one working day.
   

• Accelerated multicylinder engine testing.

  The time required to test multicylinder engines is reduced by testing different components in each cylinder. For example, the testing program for a V8 engine can be accelerated eightfold.
   

• True real-time transient capability.
  Using highly repeatable, real-time transient data, SwRI engineers recommend engine modifications that extend oil change intervals and prolong the life of emission control devices, including three-way catalysts.br>  

• Radioactive tracer method.
  Our ability to combine two radioactive tracer technologies allows near real-time measurement of engine wear and engine oil consumption simultaneously with the measurement of engine-out emissions, during controlled laboratory testing.

At SwRI, we are always striving to offer the best services possible to our clients. This motorcycle technology information represents only a small portion of how SwRI can assist your company with motorcycle testing, research, and development. For a more comprehensive review of our capabilities or information on how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Charles Roberts, Ph.D., at croberts@swri.org or (210) 522-5521 to arrange a tour of our complete facilities. We look forward to seeing you in San Antonio.

| Engine and Vehicle R&D | Engine, Emissions & Vehicle Research Division | SwRI Home |

Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

August 04, 2008