Abstract
By the use of the continuous or sampling measurement methods, standard valve tappets and chromium plated top piston rings irradiated by neutrons in JRR-1, JRR-2 and Reactor of Rikkyo Univ, were investigated to determine wear.
The engine used in this study was of the four-cylinder, 1, 500 cc, water-cooled gasoline type. The lubricating oil was circulated through suitable pipe, counting cell, and then back to the oil pan. With scintillation counter, wear was determined by counting gamma rays from the wear debris in the oil pan lubricant.
After the measurements of no load operation in laboratory, the engine was mounted on the moving car, and the wear rate observed at test course and other roads. The valve tappet wear resulted was 1-4×10-5mg per 100 revolutions. But with this counting sensitivity, no differences were found in any running conditions. In the piston rings, the amount of wear both on the face (Cr) and on the side (Fe) could be measured, it appeared in the results that the running conditions had a influence on wear rate.
