An improved endwall-injection technique for examining high-temperature ignition of lubricating oils in shock tubes.

Ignition of the lubricating fluid in a mechanical system is a highly undesirable and unsafe condition that can arise from the elevated temperatures and pressures to which the lubricant is subjected. It is therefore important to understand the fundamental chemistry behind its ignition to predict and prevent this condition. Lubricating oils, particularly those with a mineral oil base, are very complex mixtures of thousands of hydrocarbons.