The use of sintered metal bearings for high sliding velocities

Results of investigations are discussed concerning the friction and wear behaviour of sliding bearings made by powder metallurgy. The aim of the work was to extend the use of such bearings up to speeds of 12 m/s. From the results obtained, selection guidelines were deduced for the practical use of such bearings under static and dynamic load and compiled in tables for the user. In addition to tribological investigations with conventional sintered bearings, the influence of changed geometry of the bearing bore on the running behaviour of such bearings was also studied, paying attention to the technological production variants. Using this design of bearings it is the aim of the work to create improved preconditions for the generation of partial hydrodynamic load-carrying portions, so decreasing the bearing temperature and, in turn, an increasing fatigue life and reliability. Furthermore, a measuring arrangement is introduced to determine the pressure in the lubrication gap. The measuring principle was evaluated by determining the pressure patterns of massive sliding bearings and comparing them with calculated pressure values. First results of measurements of the pressure build-up in conventional sintered bearings are discussed.