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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the optimal design of micro-dimples on the bearing surface of the crankpin bearing (CB) to ameliorate the engine’s lubrication and friction (ELF).

A hydrodynamic model of the CB considering the influence of the asperity contact is built under the impact of the dynamic loading of the slider-crank-mechanism. The micro-dimples on non-slip surface of the bearing are designed and optimized based on the lubrication model and multi-objective genetic algorithm. The performance of optimal micro-dimples on ameliorating the ELF is analyzed and compared with that of optimal CB dimensions via the reduction of the solid contact force, friction force and friction coefficient between the crankpin and bearing surfaces; and the increase of the oil film pressure.

The optimal design of micro-dimples on the bearing surface may not only greatly ameliorate the ELF but also make the rotation of the crankpin inside the bearing more stable in comparison with the optimization of CB dimensions.

This study results not only clearly ameliorates the ELF but also can be applied to the slip/non-slip surface pairs of other journal bearings to enhance their lubrication performance.

To improve the lubrication and tribology performance (LTP) of the crankpin bearing, this paper aims to propose the optimization of the crankpin bearing parameters considering effect of the high-speed dynamic load and micro asperity contact.

A numerical simulation method combined by the slider-crank-mechanism dynamic and lubrication models is applied to solve the dynamic and lubrication equations of crankpin bearing. These equations are then computed via an algorithm program written in Matlab software. The contact force (W_ac) in the asperity contact region, friction force (F_f) and friction coefficient (μ) of crankpin bearing are chosen as objective functions. The original parameters and experimental data of the engine are used for the simulation to enhance the reliability of the research results. The parameters are then optimized to obtain the minimum values of W_ac, F_f and μ.

The research results show that the LTP is significantly improved with optimized parameters. Particularly, the maximum values of Wac and Ff are greatly decreased by 27 and 32%, respectively.

Reducing the width, radius and surface roughness and increasing the radial clearance of crankpin bearing can improve better the LTP.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-02-2020-0072/

This paper aims to research the effect of the different structures of dimpled textures on the rod bearing surfaces on improving the engine’s lubrication efficiency and friction power loss (LE-FPL).

Based on the hydrodynamic model of the rod bearing, the effect of different structures of dimpled surfaces including circular dimples (CD), square dimples (SD), wedge-shaped dimples (WSD), circular-square dimples (CSD) and square-wedge-shaped dimples (SWSD) on ameliorating the LE-FPL is analyzed under the different operating conditions of the engine. The oil film pressure (p), asperity contact force (W_ac), friction force (F_f) and coefficient of friction (COF) of the rod bearing are chosen to evaluate the LE-FPL.

The SD’s performance on improving the LE-FPL is better than all other structures of the CD, WSD, CSD and SWSD. Particularly, the average values of W_ac, F_f and COF with the SD is significantly reduced by 14.5%, 28.5% and 33.3% compared to the optimal dimensions of the rod bearing; and by 26.4%, 34.5% and 43.7% compared to the optimal CD (n = m = 6).

The generated friction between surfaces of rod bearings of the engine not only reduces the engine power but also affects the durability of the structures. Thus, the optimal design of the SD to further improve the LE-FPL is very necessary.

This paper aims to propose an optimal design of the partial textures in the mixed lubrication regime of the crankpin bearing (CB) to maximize the CB's lubrication efficiency.

Based on a hybrid model between the slider-crank-mechanism dynamic and CB lubrication, the square-cylindrical textures (SCT) of partial textures designed on the CB’s mixed lubrication regime are researched. The effect of the density distributions of partial textures on CB’s lubrication efficiency is then evaluated via two indices of increasing the oil film pressure (p) and decreasing the frictional force (F_f) of the CB. The SCT’s geometrical dimensions are then optimized by the genetic algorithm to further improve the CB’s lubrication efficiency.

The results show that the SCT of partial textures optimized by the genetic algorithm has an obvious effect on enhancing CB’s lubrication efficiency. Especially, with the CB using the optimal SCT of partial textures (4 × 6), the maximum p is significantly increased by 3.7% and 8.2%, concurrently, the maximum F_f is evidently reduced by 9.5% and 21.6% in comparison with the SCT of partial textures (4 × 6) without optimization and the SCT of full textures (12 × 6) designed throughout the CB’s bearing surface, respectively.

The application of the optimal SCT of partial textures on the bearing surface not only is simple for the design-manufacturing process and maximizes CB’s lubrication efficiency but also can reduce the machining time, save cost and ensure the durability of the bearing compared to use the full textures designed throughout the CB’s bearing surface.

The stepped topography of the friction pairs mainly causes the fluid film thickness to change in the direction of motion. In this region, there have very few topographical design methods for continuous or non-linear distribution of the fluid film. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of the curved surface on the performance of the liquid film.

First, a numerical simulation is used to solve the optimal bearing capacity and friction coefficient of the liquid film under the condition of the minimum film thickness. Then, the curved surface described by the sinusoidal curve equation is applied in the transitional region of maximum and minimum film thickness. The bearing capacity and the friction coefficient of the liquid film are respectively simulated and compared in the same condition of the minimum film thickness.

The research results show that the liquid film using the curved surface transition model, the optimal bearing capacity is significantly increased by 32 per cent while the optimal friction coefficient is clearly reduced by 38 per cent in comparison with using stepped surface model.

The friction pair with curved transition enables better lubrication performance of the liquid film and better adaptability under unstable conditions.