Friction Behavior of a Wet Clutch Subjected to Accelerated Degradation

This study aims at experimentally investigating the sliding friction characteristics of a wet clutch during its lifetime. More precisely, the objective is to understand how the Stribeck and the frictional lag (\textit{i.e.}~sliding hysteresis) parameters evolve as the clutch degradation progresses. For this purpose, a novel test procedure has been proposed and a set of experiments has been carried out on a fully assembled (commercial) clutch using a modified SAE\#2 test setup. Furthermore, a systematic methodology for the Stribeck and the frictional lag parameters identification is developed. Regardless of the applied pressure, it appears that the first three identified Stribeck parameters tend to decrease with the progression of the degradation, while the last parameter tends to increase. In regard to the frictional lag parameter, the trend shows pressure dependency.status: publishe