To characterize the performance and durability of a dry or wet clutch system, an adequate test system is required to obtain feedback on the most critical design parameters. The test platform needs to accurately simulate the torque transfer between the powertrain components, so that the following tests can be performed.

assembly preconditioning inspection of proper assembly at a macro level, breaking in the shaft seals, etc. performance signature relationship between various performance parameters, such as engagement speed, application pressure/flow, inertia, and temperature average dynamic coefficient of friction determining the average dynamic coefficient of friction between a friction material and a reaction surface during an engagement cycle, under specific controlled conditions initial dynamic coefficient of friction dynamic coefficient measured at the start of an engagement cycle midpoint dynamic coefficient of friction dynamic coefficient measured at the midpoint of an engagement cycle maximum speed measurement of maximum continuous speed at which friction surfaces can achieve full torque transfer maximum torque measurement of the maximum torque that can be continuously transmitted between the friction material and reaction surface continuous slip characterization of continuous slip friction properties at low, medium, and high speed conditions parasitic drag characterization with a fixed friction surface speed, without the application force lubrication testing flow is supplied to the elements under various controlled conditions, such as a specific application pressure and flow rate input power measurement/control of the input speed and torque of the friction material output power measurement/control of the output speed and torque of the reaction surface

endpoint dynamic coefficient of friction dynamic coefficient measured at the end of an engagement cycle static breakaway coefficient of friction determining the coefficient of friction when the friction elements are accelerated from standstill up to a specific speed value engagement period measurement of the period of actuation to full torque transfer under specific controlled conditions fluid temperature repetition of any test at a specific point inside the test fluid operating temperature range clutch material temperature repetition of any test at a different friction material temperature cumulative thickness wear total wear of clutch lining material after a specific number of cycles under controlled conditions test energy level measurement of the total amount of work done during a dynamic engagement of the clutch rotational destructive spin test define reliability of clutch assembly at over-speed conditions by spinning the assembly until structural failure torsional durability continuous re-engagement of clutch assembly friction plates under controlled speed, torque and temperature values until structural failure bending strength measure total deflection of the clutch facing material when an external bending load is applied to it until structural failure NVH testing measurement of the vibration and sound power levels during clutch operation under various controlled conditions