QUANTITATIVE FILTER DEBRIS ANALYSIS (QFDA) AS A MEANS OF MONITORING WEAR IN OIL-LUBRICATED SYSTEMS

In this study, the trace analytical technique of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), using the SLOWPOKE-2 Facility at RMC, was used to develop an application termed Quantitative Filter Debris Analy sis (QFDA). The preliminary step, which consisted of the quantitative analysis of filter debris samples from CH-124 Sea King helicopter main gear boxes (MGB) for 19 elements associated with engine wear, confirm ed that distinct ranges of normal and abnormal wear rates exist in the CH-124 MGB and, more importantly, validated the INAA procedures. The second step, which consisted of the analysis of both oil and filter de bris samples from the CF-188 Hornet aircraft engine by the INAA techni que and an Atomic Emission (AE) method, confirmed that little useful w ear information can be found in the oil of a finely-filtered engine sy stem and demonstrated the potential of QFDA as a means of monitoring w ear by analyzing the oil filter debris. What appears to be normal wear rate ranges were identified for the CF-188 Hornet aircraft engine. Th e potential of monitoring the wear health of oil-lubricated systems us ing QFDA was confirmed by this investigation.