This paper presents a method for coupling a multibody simulation for the actuator system in axial piston machines in combination with a transient, three-dimensional, thermal elastohydrodynamic contact calculation. For the tribological investigation, the oscillating piston/cylinder contact is focused, whereby a simplified model of the actuator system simulates the loads. The developed method allows the integration of a complex tribological contact simulation under mixed friction conditions into a dynamic multibody simulation based on the Newton–Euler method. It is discussed how the accuracy of the results and the calculation time can be improved by the procedure.

A tribological highly stressed contact in the actuating system of axial piston machines is located between the control piston and the control chamber. This paper presents a new type of component test rig for measuring the frictional force and the gap heights between piston and cylinder. For this purpose, the original system is reduced to the actuator system, whereby the real kinematics and the loading forces are maintained. The axial movement of the control piston and the pressure in the control chamber can be configured individually. The measurement results of different parameter variations are compared with the results of the simulation. The simulation based on a coupled multibody and TEHL simulation with a transient, three-dimensional, thermal elastohydrodynamic contact calculation.