Thin-film multisensor
Pressure and temperature measurement on site
The Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST is presenting a thin-film multi-sensor that enables pressure and temperature measurements even under mixed friction and high loads.
The measurement of pressure and temperature plays a crucial role in various technical applications from rolling bearings to gears and seals. Until now, there has been no solution for measuring mixed friction in particular - i.e. the simultaneous occurrence of liquid and solid friction. The thin-film multi-sensor developed in collaboration with the Institute of Machine Design (IMK) at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg was specially designed for simultaneous, high-resolution pressure and temperature measurement in rolling contacts under mixed friction, even under high loads. Simulations and tests on test benches confirm the functionality and wear resistance of the sensors.
The measurement data obtained in the tests contribute to a significantly improved understanding of the frictional behavior of the rolling contacts. They also enable a critical evaluation and improvement of the calculation methods used to design the contacts. The thin-film sensor technology is suitable for use on rolling and roller contacts in drive units and other machine elements. In the future, the sensor technology could also be used for condition monitoring and digital maintenance in this area. The Fraunhofer IST is showing various demonstrators, for example rolling bearing disks and gear wheels with the thin-film multi-sensor described.









