The diploma thesis deals with construction design and practical realisation of experimental apparatus for investigation of wheel flange track vehicle lubrication. Experimental apparatus in full-scale uses optical interferometry for investigation of lubrication behaviour in wheel flange contact. It is an innovative approach which has not been used for such experiments so far. The aim of the following measurement with this apparatus is to determine the minimal amount of ecological lubrication in wheel flange contact under certain conditions when there is no lubrication film interruption. The apparatus enables to measure real rail wear. This work contains the apparatus description for the study of wheel flange lubrication, wheel flange contact specifications, the description of its influence on wear and acoustic emission, and a detailed description of the experimental apparatus.

The purpose of this diploma thesis is to describe the influence of input parameters (rolling speed, load, temperature, dynamic viscosity and pressure coefficient of the lubricant) on film thickness in point and elliptical contacts using optical interferometry. Regression based film thickness formula has been obtained using universal form of non-dimensional parameters of entrainment speed U, load W and material G. Equations were also complemented by the function of ellipticity k. New regression formulas for central and minimum film thickness have been compared with existing EHL thickness equations. These film thickness measurement and new regression formulas have applicability to our understanding of the performance and more effective design of lubricated gears from polymeric materials.

The work deals with the process of lubrication of gears from a combination of materials that have significantly different material properties. The experimental measurement is performed on a tribometer in simulated gear contact with a ball-disk configuration. The Chromatic Optical Interferometry method is used to measure the formation of a lubricating film in contact. The purpose of this work is to clarify the process of film thickness formation and compare experimental measurements with predictions, which are valid in Soft EHL regime.