Lab 2: Lubricant Properties Rheology Lab

The University of Sydney

Department of Mechanical Engineering

AMME 5310 – Engineering Tribology

April 2019

Luis Antonio Nunez Cruz SID: 470194223

Abstract:

During this session three tests were performed:

Determination of the viscosity of water by using a chronometer and a Ostwald viscometer

(Capillary Rheometer) at a known temperature.

Measure the shear stress vs shear rate, viscosity vs shear rate and strain vs shear rate of
a determined commercial oil (Shell Helix 15W-40) and a commercial Lithium Grease by
the use of Physica MCR 300 rheometer the results were compared and plotted to show
the lubricant behavior

I
Table of Contents

1 Definitions ..........................................................................................................................1
2 Experiment 1 Viscosity measurement with the Ostwald viscometer .....................................1
2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................1
2.2 Equipment....................................................................................................................2
2.3 Procedure.....................................................................................................................2
2.4 Calculations ..................................................................................................................2
2.5 Discussion ....................................................................................................................3
3 Experiment 2 Lubricant Properties .......................................................................................3
3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................3
3.2 Equipment....................................................................................................................4
3.3 Procedure.....................................................................................................................4
4 Results ................................................................................................................................6
5 Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 10
6 Appendix........................................................................................................................... 11
6.1 Appendix 1 ................................................................................................................. 11
6.2 Appendix 2 ................................................................................................................. 12
6.3 Appendix 3 ................................................................................................................. 13
7 References ........................................................................................................................ 14

II
 1 Definitions
(Williams, 1994)

 Temperature: is the average kinetic energy of the particles that conform a substance, is
measured with a calibrated thermometer to express the coldness or hotness within a scale
e.g. Celsius or Fahrenheit
 Strain: The measure that describes the geometrical deformation in a body, caused by
external loads or forces
 Shear Rate: Is described as the gradient of velocity in a flowing substance, in other words is
the rate at which a shearing deformation is applied
 Shear Stress: Is the coplanar to the cross-section component of stress, it comes from the
shear forces
 Viscosity: The simplest way to describe it is the measure of the resistance of a fluid to flow,
it quantifies the friction force among adjacent layers in a fluid
 Normal Force: is the perpendicular component of a force applied in a surface
 Speed: Is the rate of the change of the position of an object, in a period of time.

2 Experiment 1 Viscosity measurement with the Ostwald

viscometer

2.1 Introduction
Viscosity is the result of the interaction of the different molecules
conformed in layers in a fluid, this can also be understood as the
friction among the molecules, viscosity describes the required
energy to make a fluid flow, when the density is known an old
method can be used which is using a device called Ostwald
viscometer (Figure 1) the method to determine the viscosity with
this instrument includes the use of a chronometer for a known
volume of fluid, to measure the time that it takes to flow through
the capillary due to the gravitational action.

FIGURE 1

1
2.2 Equipment

• Ostwald viscometer
• Thermometer
• Beaker
• Fixtures
• Chronometer

FIGURE 2

In the figure 2 is shown the whole equipment to develop the experiment

2.3 Procedure

 Determine the temperature of the fluid using a calibrated thermometer

 Draw the liquid (Water) up to the upper mark
 Measure by using a chronometer the time that takes draining the water from upper
mark to the lower mark avoiding any parallelism error
 Calculate kinematic viscosity of the fluid at the indicated temperature, use four
readings
 Average the values obtained by the team members
 Calculate the error comparing the result with the actual value

(Hardy, 1962)

2.4 Calculations

Having a determined time in seconds we can measure the kinematic viscosity by applying
the formula:

V=Ct-B/t
V=kinematic viscosity (mm2/s)
C= constant of calibration (0.01376±0.00003 mm2/s)
t=time (s)
B=constant (1.8mm2)

Temperature Reading = 24.9°C

2
From the table (see apendix) and interpolating

Temp Kin.Vis
24 0.9131
24.9 0.89465
25 0.8926
Time(s) 68 68.5 68 68

Viscosity 0.909209 0.916282628 0.909209 0.909209

(mm2/s)

Avg((mm2/s)) 0.910977407

Error 𝑉𝑎𝑣𝑔−𝑉𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑒
𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = 𝑥100%=1.82%
𝑉𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑒

2.5 Discussion

The study of fluids in motion is a complex problem in which the viscosity always plays a
fundamental role, although the most elementary theories ignore their effects, assuming that
the liquid can be divided into layers slide over each other without finding any resistance,
actually, this is far from being true, in the sliding of these layers tangential forces are
developed, sometimes these forces are so big that the movement is hard to be done. This
happens for example with very heavy oils. On the other hand, forces can be so small that
the liquid then flows easily as happens with water or alcohol. This "degree of fluency" is
characterized by a typical coefficient of each substance that is called dynamic viscosity.

The viscosity measures the resistance of the fluid to flow, during the experiment it was
observed a very well know fluid that has been analyzed and which its properties are also
known, water.

The kinematic viscosity is the relation of the dynamic viscosity and the density of the
analyzed fluid, the way of measuring this value by using analog instruments can lead to
reading errors committed unintentionally by the users.

3 Experiment 2 Lubricant Properties

3.1 Introduction
Viscosity in lubricants is a topic deeply studied, the heat , friction and hence wearing are
directly affected by it, lubricants such as oil and grease are mainly used to separate the
moving surfaces to reduce noise and vibrations, according to the ASTM D445 this has to
be done by measuring the time for a volume of liquid to flow under gravity though a
3
calibrated capillary at set temperature usually 40°C & 100°C, but in this experiment an
automatic machine will be used to test and monitor the important paramenters in the
lubricants.

(Van Wazer, 1963)

3.2 Equipment

 Physica MCR 300 Rheometer

 Shell Helix 15W-40
 Lithium Grease

3.3 Procedure

Shell Helix 15W-40 & Lithium Grease were tested using the Rheometer according to the
following procedure:

1) Before any measurement must be confirmed that no normal force is applied

2) Ensure the temperature of the samples to be measured
3) Drop in the tray the adequate volume of lubricant
4) Displace the top plate above the lower plate, 1mm for grease or 0.5mm for oil
(measurement position)
5) Cut the excess of lubricant from the edges of the top plate by using a cardboard or
plastic sheet
6) Wait until the normal force is stable
7) Once the force is stable proceed with the test
8) Generate the graphs and tables to analyze the data
9) Return the top plate to the upper position
10) Remove the top plate and proceed to the cleaning

4
 Rheoplus

1
20 Shell Helix 15W-40(Wang) 1

PP 50; [d=0.5 mm]

Pa
Shear Stress
15
Viscosity

Castrol GTX 15W-40(Han) 1

10 Pa·s
PP 50; [d=0.5 mm]

Shear Stress

Viscosity
5
Shell Helix 15W-40(Luis) 1

PP 50; [d=0.5 mm]

0 0.1 Shear Stress

0 20 40 60 80 1/s 100
. Viscosity
Shear Rate
Anton Paar GmbH

FIGURE 3
In the figure 3 is shown a comparison between the Analized oil (shell) and the oil analized
by some other teams (Castrol)
Rheoplus

20 1

Pa

15
Shell Helix 15W-40(Luis) 1

PP 50; [d=0.5 mm]

10 Pa·s Shear Stress

Viscosity

0 0.1
0 20 40 60 80 1/s 100
.
Shear Rate
Anton Paar GmbH

FIGURE 4

5
 Step 3 Step 5

Step 6 Step 8

4 Results
The following figures show a summary of the results; however, the complete table with the
data obtained can be consulted in the appendix.

6
 Shell Helix 15W-40
20
18
16
Shear Stress (Pa)

14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2 9 16 23 30 37 44 51 58 65 72 79 86 93 100
Shear Rate (1/s)

Shell Helix 15W-40

1
0.9
0.8
0.7
Viscosity (Pa.s)

0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Shear Rate (1/s)

7
 Shell Helix 15W-40
800000
700000
600000
500000
Strain (%)

400000
300000
200000
100000
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Shear Rate (1/s)

Shell Helix 15W-40

800000
700000
600000
500000
Strain (%)

400000
300000
200000
100000
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Time (sec)

8
 Lithium Grease
1600
1400
1200
Shear Stress (Pa)

1000
800
600
400
200
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Shear Rate (1/s)

Lithium Grease
4,000
3,500
3,000
Viscosity (Pa.s)

2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0
-500 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Shear Rate (1/s)

9
 Lithium Grease
200000
180000
160000
140000
Strain (%)

120000
100000
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Shear Rate (1/s)

Lithium Grease
200000
180000
160000
140000
Strain (%)

120000
100000
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Time (sec)

5 Discussion
Although two engine oils with the same commercial classification were tested both showed
a different behavior while tested, it may explain the difference in prices and hence the
difference in behavior while working.

However, even the same sample showed a different behavior in different moments, this
may be explained acknowledging the fact that every single sample leave a small coating of
contamination to the next sample,

(Van Wazer, 1963)

The rheometer provides valuable data in terms of quality inspection and properties
research, eliminating the user’s tendency to commit errors.

10
6 Appendix

6.1 Appendix 1

11
6.2 Appendix 2

12
6.3 Appendix 3

13
7 References

Hardy, R. C. (1962). NBS viscometer calibrating liquids and capillary tube

viscometers. Washington: for sale by the Superintendent of Documents,
U. S. Govt. Print. Off.
Van Wazer, J. R. (1963). Viscosity and flow measurement : a laboratory
handbook of rheology. New York: Interscience Publishers.
Williams, J. A. (1994). Engineering tribology. Oxford ; New York: Oxford
University Press.

14