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Due to high speeds, heavy loads, large slide-to-roll ratios (SRR) and other variable operating conditions, some rolling bearings that have been working in harsh conditions may experience flash temperatures in the contact area, which may result in early damage like smearing and then affect service life. This study aims to investigate the flash temperature phenomenon of rolling bearings through theoretical and experimental analysis.

A technology for measuring temperature distribution in rolling ball on disk contact under lubrication was developed. The test-rig can simulate the ball bearing contact. The effects of working conditions such as entrainment speed, load, SRR and lubricating oil viscosity on the flash temperature were investigated.

The results of the theoretical calculation and experiments indicate that the parameters promoting the reduction of film thickness in elastohydrodynamic lubrication are always related with the number of flash points, even film thickness reduced to mixed lubrication. The flash temperature is easier to happen in conditions of high SRR, heavy load, slow entrainment speed and low viscosity oil.

This work conducts an experimental study on the flash temperature phenomenon, providing a test technology for bearing lubrication and failure investigation.

This author has opted into Transparent Peer Review available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2023-0104

Harmonic gears always work under different operating conditions and may usually break down due to lubrication failures, while its lubrication mechanism is still not clearly understood. This paper aims to present a lubrication model comprehensively considering the influence of contact geometry, lubrication properties and three-dimensional (3D) real surface roughness to analyze the lubrication performance under different conditions.

Based on the discrete convolution-fast Fourier transformation with duplicated padding and quasi-system numerical methods, the lubrication model for harmonic gears is developed, which is verified by comparing results with available lubrication data.

The effects of meshing process, working conditions and 3D roughness on the lubrication characteristics are discussed. From the calculated cases, the increase in rotational speed and decrease of applied torque may increase the film thickness, enhancing the lubrication performance of harmonic gears. It is also observed that proper surface roughness can be used for lubrication design.

The research results can provide theoretical guidance for improving lubrication performance and reducing friction/wear of the harmonic gear interfaces. This study can be promoted to various engineering scenarios of harmonic gears, such as industrial robots, space-driven agencies and precision measuring instruments.

Tribological research is complex and multidisciplinary, with many parameters to consider. As traditional experimentation is time-consuming and expensive due to the complexity of tribological systems, researchers tend to use quantitative and qualitative analysis to monitor critical parameters and material characterization to explain observed dependencies. In this regard, numerical modeling and simulation offers a cost-effective alternative to physical experimentation but must be validated with limited testing. This paper aims to highlight advances in numerical modeling as they relate to the field of tribology.

This study performed an in-depth literature review for the field of modeling and simulation as it relates to tribology. The authors initially looked at the application of foundational studies (e.g. Stribeck) to understand the gaps in the current knowledge set. The authors then evaluated a number of modern developments related to contact mechanics, surface roughness, tribofilm formation and fluid-film layers. In particular, it looked at key fields driving tribology models including nanoparticle research and prosthetics. The study then sought out to understand the future trends in this research field.

The field of tribology, numerical modeling has shown to be a powerful tool, which is both time- and cost-effective when compared to standard bench testing. The characterization of tribological systems of interest fundamentally stems from the lubrication regimes designated in the Stribeck curve. The prediction of tribofilm formation, film thickness variation, fluid properties, asperity contact and surface deformation as well as the continuously changing interactions between such parameters is an essential challenge for proper modeling.

This paper highlights the major numerical modeling achievements in various disciplines and discusses their efficacy, assumptions and limitations in tribology research.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-03-2023-0076/

This study aims to present a numerical solution for the analysis of the influence of surface roughness as presented by a sinusoidal ripple of different amplitude and wavelength on the performance of transient elastohydrodynamic lubrication at motion start-up under different operational parameters of entraining speed and load as well as different acceleration rates.

A statistical asperity micro-contact model represented by a sinusoidal ripple expressed by two parameters (wavelength and undeformed amplitude) is considered. The ball equation of motion is used to calculate the force on the ball as it starts to move. The time-dependent Reynolds equation is solved together with surface deformation and statistical asperity models using the Newton–Raphson technique with the Gauss–Seidel iteration method.

The behaviour of the film thickness was found to be strongly influenced by the acceleration rate for different ripple amplitude and wavelength parameters. The effect of increasing the final entraining speed will eventually lead to rapid film thickness build-up and increase the film thickness jump at the moment of motion start-up. The effect of increasing applied load is to reduce the deviation of the minimum film thickness jump at the start-up of motion, making its value approximately equal to the steady-state value over the entire run-time period.

Influence of surface roughness for various wavelength and undeformed amplitude on the performance of transient elastohydrodynamic lubrication at motion start-up is presented at different acceleration rates as well as for different operating parameters of entraining speed and load. Ball equation of motion is used to calculate the force on the ball as it starts to move.

This paper aims to study the impact of transient velocity changes on sealing performance during reciprocating sealing processes.

Establish a model of transient mixed lubrication, solve the transient Reynolds equation, consider the effect of temperature rise at the seal interfaces, and determine the behavior of the seal interfaces, such as film thickness and fluid pressure. Evaluation with friction and leakage rate, calculate the variation of sealing performance with reciprocating velocity under different working conditions, and verify it through bench experiments.

Within a reciprocating stroke, the frictional force decreases with increasing velocity, and the frictional force of the outstroke is greater than that of the instroke; at the time of the stroke transition, the fluid pressure is smallest and the rough peak contact pressure is greatest. At present, the dynamic pressure effect of fluids is the largest, and the friction force also increases, which increases the risk of material wear and failure. Friction and leakage increase with increasing pressure and root mean square roughness. As temperature increases, friction increases and leakage decreases. In studying the performance variations of seal components through a reciprocating sealing experiment, it was found that the friction force decreases with increasing velocity, which is consistent with the calculated results and more similar to the calculated results considering the temperature rise.

This study provides a reference for the study of transient sealing performance.

This study aims to investigate mixed lubrication performances of stern bearing in a misaligned state considering turbulence and bearing deformation impacts.

A mixed lubrication model of stern bearing is established. The generalized average Reynolds equation governing the turbulent flow of lubricant is analyzed by considering the interaction of bearing elastic deformation, asperity contact pressure and film pressure. The bearing behaviors including minimum film thickness, hydrodynamic pressure, asperity friction force and frictional coefficient are studied under different models. The correctness of this model is verified by comparing it with that of the published data.

Numerical results indicate that elastic deformation noticeably decreases the maximum film pressure, the asperity contact force and the friction coefficient in the mixed lubrication stage. The effect of elastic deformation and turbulence reduces the transition speed from mixed to liquid lubrication.

This model includes both turbulence and bearing deformation impacts on journal bearing performances. It is expected that the numerical results can provide useful information to establish a stern bearing exposed to mixed lubrication conditions.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-11-2022-0352/

To guide the stable radius clearance choice of water-lubricated bearings for single screw compressors, this paper aims to analyze the effects of turbulence and cavitation on bearing performance under two conditions of specified external load and radius clearance.

A modified Reynolds equation considering turbulence and cavitation is adopted, based on the Jakobsson–Floberg–Olsson boundary condition, Ng–Pan model and turbulent factors. The equation is solved using the finite difference method and successive over-relaxation method to investigate the bearing performance.

The turbulent effect can increase the hydrodynamic pressure and cavitation. In addition, the turbulent effect can lead to an increase in the equilibrium radius clearance. The turbulent region exhibits a higher load capacity and cavitation rate. However, the increased cavitation negatively impacts the frictional coefficient and end flow rate. The impact of turbulence increases as the radius clearance decreases. As the rotating speed increases, the turbulence effect has a greater impact on the bearing characteristics.

The research can provide theoretical support for the design of water-lubricated journal bearings used in high-speed water-lubricated single screw compressors.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-01-2024-0029/

Microtextured surfaces can reduce friction in tribological systems under certain contact conditions. Because it is very time-consuming to determine suitable texture patterns experimentally, numerical approaches to the design of microtextures are increasingly gaining acceptance. The purpose of this paper is to investigate to what extent the selected modeling approach affects optimized texturing.

Using the cam/tappet contact as an application-oriented example, a simplified 2D and a full 3D model are developed for determining the best possible texturing via a design study. The study explores elongated Gaussian-shaped texture elements for this purpose. The optima of the simplified 2D simulation model and the full 3D model are compared with each other to draw conclusions about the influence of the modeling strategy. The target value here is the solid body friction in contact.

For the elongated texture elements used, both the simplified 2D model and the full model result in very similar optimal texture patterns. In the selected application, the simplified simulation model can significantly reduce the computational effort without affecting the optimization result.

Depending on the selected use case, the simulation effort required for microtexture optimization can be significantly reduced by comparing different models first. Therefore, an exact physical replica of the real contact is not necessarily the primary goal when it comes to texture selection based on numerical simulations.

Universities and their actions affect the environment directly and significantly. Therefore, the carbon footprint (CF) needs to be implemented in these institutions for mitigating climate change and its potential risks. Based on this understanding, the university consortium quality and environment (QualEnv) stands out by its main objective – to increase the university's contribution to sustainable development (SD) through the deployment of systematic environmental practices and quality processes. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to present the CF of the Latin American universities of the QualEnv consortium.

The study was based on the actions for adopting CF and its implementation at the universities that take part in the QualEnv consortium. The measurement process and report presentation were done properly by the universities and published as institutional documents. Therefore, data were collected and analyzed through a document search, systematic literature review and participant observation.

The results show knowledge deepening and systematization on CF in higher education. In addition, it presents the effort of a group of universities that, through a research network, seek to adopt practices towards a carbon-neutral university, which requires an incremental and systematic change to break out of the traditional system.

This paper discusses the practical implications for universities and the need to implement initiatives for measuring and reducing their CF since it shows how the institutions belonging to QualEnv consortium have created their own strategies to mitigate climate change and contribute to SD.