Search results

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.

In this study a numerical analysis of the elastohydrodynamic lubrication point contact problem in the unsteady state of reciprocating motion is presented. The effects of frequency, stroke length and load on film thickness and pressure variation during one operating cycle are discussed. The general tribological behavior of elastohydrodynamic lubrication during reciprocating motion is explained.

The system of equations of Reynolds, film thickness considering surface deformation and load balance equations are solved using the Newton-Raphson technique with the Gauss-Seidel iteration method. Numerical solutions were performed with a sinusoidal contact surface velocity to simulate reciprocating elastohydrodynamics. The methodology is validated using historical experimental measurements/observations and numerical predictions from other researchers.

The numerical results showed that the change in oil film during a stroke is controlled by both wedge and squeeze effects. When the surface velocity is zero at the stroke end, the squeeze effect is most noticeable. As the frequency increases, the general trend of central and minimum film thickness increases. With the same entraining speed but different stroke lengths, the properties of the oil film differ from one another, with an increase in stroke length leading to a reduction in film thickness. Finally, the numerical results showed that the overall film thickness decreases with increasing load.

General tribological behaviors of elastohydrodynamic lubricating point contact, represented by pressure and film thickness variations over time and profiles, are analyzed under reciprocating motion during one working cycle to show the effects of frequency, stroke length and applied load.

The study aims to the distribution rule of lubricating oil film of full ceramic ball bearing and improve its performance and life.

The paper established an analysis model based on the fluid–solid conjugate heat transfer theory for full ceramic ball bearings. The distribution of flow, temperature and pressure field of bearings under variable working conditions is analyzed. Meanwhile, the mathematical model of elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) of full ceramic ball bearings is established. The numerical analysis is used to study the influence of variable working conditions on the lubricant film thickness and pressure distribution of bearings. The temperature rise test of full ceramic ball bearing under oil lubrication was carried out to verify the correctness of simulation results.

As the speed increased, the oil volume fraction in full ceramic ball bearing decreased and the surface pressure of rolling element increased. The temperature rise of full ceramic ball bearings increases with increasing speed and load. The lubricant film thickness of full ceramic ball bearing is positively correlated with speed and negatively correlated with load. The pressure of lubricating film is positively correlated with speed and load. The test shows that the higher inner ring speed and radial load, the higher the steady-state temperature rise of full ceramic ball bearing. The test results are in high agreement with simulation results.

Based on the fluid–solid conjugate heat transfer theory and combined with Reynolds equation, lubricating oil film thickness formula, viscosity temperature and viscosity pressure formula. The thermal analysis model and EHL mathematical model of ceramic ball bearings are established. The flow field, temperature field and pressure field distribution of the full ceramic ball bearing are determined. And the thickness and pressure distribution of lubricating oil film in the contact area of full ceramic ball bearing were determined.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-05-2023-0126/

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of surface texture on the subsurface characteristics of contact interfaces under elastohydrodynamic lubrication condition. As a typical contact form of gears and bearings, the optimization of friction characteristics at the elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) interface has attracted the attention of scholars. Laser surface texturing is a feasible optimization solution, but there have been concerns about whether the surface texture of high-pair parts will affect their fatigue life.

To examine the impact of texture preparation on the subsurface characteristics of high-pair interfaces under EHL conditions, a point contact EHL model is developed that takes into account the effect of textured surface topography. The pressure and thickness of the oil film are calculated as input parameters under different loads and entrainment velocities. The finite element method is used to simulate the impact of textures with varying diameters, densities and depths on the subsurface characteristics of the elastohydrodynamic interface. According to ISO 25178, analyze the relationship between 3D topography parameters and subsurface characteristics and study the trend of friction characteristics and subsurface characteristics based on the results of the ball on disc friction tests.

The outcomes suggest that under different rotational velocity and load conditions, the textured surfaces exhibit improved friction reduction effects; however, the creation of textures can result in significant subsurface plastic deformation and local peeling. The existence of texture makes the larger stress zone in the subsurface layer closer to the surface, leading to fatigue failure near the surface. Reasonable design parameters can help enhance the attributes of the subsurface. A smaller Sa and a Str greater than 0.5 can achieve ideal subsurface properties on the textured surface.

This paper investigates the influence of surface texture on the friction and subsurface characteristics of EHL interfaces and analyzes the impact of surface texture on interface contact performance while achieving lubrication improvement functional characteristics. The results provide theoretical support for the optimization design and functional regulation of surface texture in EHL interfaces.

The peer review history for this article is https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-10-2023-0324/

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.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the performance of an ultra-thin film lubricated conjunction through the elastohydrodynamic lubrication of point contacts for various ridge shapes and sizes located within the contact zone including flat-top, triangle and cosine wave profiles, considering the influence of surface forces of solvation and Van der Waals’ in addition to the hydrodynamic effect to predict an optimum geometric characteristics for surface texture for lubricated conjunctions.

Surface features are simulated in a variety of sizes and shapes including flat-top, triangle and cosine wave profiles. While estimating the elastic deformation of the contacting surfaces, surface forces of solvation and Van der Waals’ are taken into account. The Reynolds equation is solved using the Newton–Raphson method to get the pressure profile and film thickness including the elastic deformation, and surface feature.

The geometrical characteristics of the ridge, its placement in relation to the contact zone and its height all have a significant impact on the performance of ultra-thin film lubricated conjunction. When the triangular-shaped ridge is present in contact, it forecasts even sharper peaks in film thickness and pressure. More friction, wear and eventually contact fatigue are brought on by this more acute pressure and film thickness peaks. The flat-top ridge shape shows a better performance for lubricated conjunction where, the minimum film thickness value is comparable to that obtained for the case of a smooth contact surface. This behavior is attributed to the effect of intermolecular force of solvation. An increase in the size of the ridge results in a step increase in the film thickness for different ridge shapes, particularly for the flat-topped ridge pattern.

Evaluation of the performance of elastohydrodynamic lubricated ultra-thin film conjunction related to film thickness and pressure profile for various ridge surface features of different amplitudes, shapes and sizes located through the contact zone considering the influence of surface forces of solvation and Van der Waals’ in addition to the hydrodynamic effect.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-03-2023-0062/

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

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.

To understand the service performance of full ceramic ball bearings under extreme working conditions and improve their service life, dynamic characteristic tests of full ceramic ball bearings under ultra-low temperature conditions were carried out by a low-temperature bearing life testing machine, and temperature rise and friction were measured under extreme low-temperature environment.

The heat-flow coupling model of bearing was established by CFD software, and the test results were further analyzed.

The results show that the temperature rise of the bearing is not obvious in the liquid nitrogen environment. With the increase of the chamber temperature, the lubrication state of the bearing changes, resulting in the temperature rise of the outer ring of the bearing. As the temperature of the test chamber increases, the friction force on the bearing increases first and then decreases under the action of multifactor coupling.

The research results provide test data and theoretical basis for the application of all-ceramic ball bearings in aerospace and other fields and have important significance for improving the service life of high-end equipment under extreme working conditions.

The research results provide test data and theoretical basis for the application of full ceramic ball bearings in aerospace and other fields and have important significance for improving the service life of high-end equipment under extreme working conditions.

The research results provide test data and theoretical basis for the application of full ceramic ball bearings in aerospace and other fields and have important significance for improving the service life of high-end equipment under extreme working conditions.

The research results provide test data and theoretical basis for the application of full ceramic ball bearings in aerospace and other fields and have important significance for improving the service life of high-end equipment under extreme working conditions.

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/