Almen-Wieland Tribometer (AWT)

The Almen-Wieland testing machine for determining compressive load, wear and frictional force of oils, dispersions, pastes and greases.

The test bench was once widely used, especially in the lubricant industry, where it was routinely used for product development and quality control. Today, most of the testing has been replaced by other and more modern methods (VKA, SRV).

A test shaft (diameter 6.3 mm) rotates between two bearing half-shells (bore diameter 6.5 mm, 12.5 mm long). In the standard test, the load is increased hydraulically in steps of 1 kg/cm² (500 N) every 100 revolutions until the shaft shears off or the upper limit of 18.5 kN is reached. The frictional torque is measured at each load level. A modified test stand has been equipped with modern measuring and drive technology and allows the torque and contact force to be recorded electronically. The speed of this test stand is infinitely variable between 10 and 3000 1/min.
Test bench parameters
Speed 200 1/min
Load 0 to 18,500 Newton
Temperature 0 to 120 °C
Movement types Glide
Friction conditions Boundary and mixed friction
Contact geometry Line contact
Measured variables Frictional torque, lubricant temperature, seizure load
Test geometry Shaft Ø 6.3 mm; bearing half shells Ø 6.5 mm, 12.5 mm long

Other tests

  • Investigation of the load carrying capacity and the effect of extreme pressure (EP) additives.

Possible specimen geometries