Formation of Lubricant Film in Rotary Sealing Contacts: Part II—A New Measuring Principle for Lubricant Film Thickness

1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Poll ◽  
A. Gabelli
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Lip Seal ◽  
Tribological System ◽  
Lip Seals ◽  
Magnetite Particles ◽  
Rotary Speed ◽  
Fluid Film Thickness ◽  
Insight Into

The development of models for the elastohydrodynamic lubrication of rotary lip seals requires the measurement of the film thickness under a real seal. A new method has been developed for this purpose which is based on the use of lubricant oils in which magnetite particles are suspended (so-called magnetic fluids). A change in the fluid film thickness will create a change in the impedance of the coil of the measuring circuit, the magnetic flux of which is directed through the oil film of the contact area. The advantage of this technique is that minimal modifications have to be applied to the tribological system under examination. Initial measurements carried out with a model rubber lip seal provided new insight into the build-up of a lubricant film as a function of the rotary speed and allowed comparison with the results of a theoretical model for the analysis of lip seal lubrication developed in parallel.

Quantitative Analysis of Reynolds and Navier–Stokes Based Modeling Approaches for Isothermal Newtonian Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication

2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leoluca Scurria ◽  
Tommaso Tamarozzi ◽  
Oleg Voronkov ◽  
Dieter Fauconnier
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Thickness Distribution ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Low Viscosity ◽  
Fluid Film Thickness

Abstract When simulating elastohydrodynamic lubrication, two main approaches are usually followed to predict the pressure and fluid film thickness distribution throughout the contact. The conventional approach relies on the Reynolds equation to describe the thin lubricant film, which is coupled to a Boussinesq description of the linear elastic deformation of the solids. A more accurate, yet a time-consuming method is the use of computational fluid dynamics in which the Navier–Stokes equations describe the flow of the thin lubricant film, coupled to a finite element solver for the description of the local contact deformation. This investigation aims at assessing both methods for different lubrication conditions in different elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) regimes and quantify their differences to understand advantages and limitations of both methods. This investigation shows how the results from both approaches deviate for three scenarios: (1) inertial contributions (Re > 1), i.e., thick films, high speed, and low viscosity; (2) high shear stresses leading to secondary flows; and (3) large deformations of the solids leading to inaccuracies of the Boussinesq equation.

A Three-Dimensional Model of Line-Contact Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication for Heterogeneous Materials with Inclusions

2016 ◽  
Vol 08 (02) ◽  
pp. 1650014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun Zhou ◽  
Qingbing Dong
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Half Space ◽  
Surface Deformation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Line Contact ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Equivalent Inclusion Method ◽  
Surface Contact

This paper develops a three-dimensional (3D) model for a heterogeneous half-space with inclusions distributed periodically beneath its surface subject to elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) line-contact applied by a cylindrical loading body. The model takes into account the interactions between the loading body, the fluid lubricant and the heterogeneous half-space. In the absence of subsurface inclusions, the surface contact pressure distribution, the half-space surface deformation and the lubricant film thickness profile are obtained through solving a unified Reynolds equation system. The inclusions are homogenized according to Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method (EIM) with unknown eigenstrains to be determined. The disturbed half-space surface deformations induced by the subsurface inclusions or eigenstrains are iteratively introduced into the lubricant film thickness until the surface deformation finally converges. Both time-independent smooth surface contact and time-dependent rough surface contact are considered for the lubricated contact problem.

Three-Dimensional Temperature Distribution in EHD Lubrication: Part II—Point Contact and Numerical Formulation

1993 ◽  
Vol 115 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyung-Hoon Kim ◽  
Farshid Sadeghi
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Distribution ◽  
Film Thickness ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Control Volume ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Point Contact ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Numerical Formulation ◽  
Energy Equations

A numerical study of Newtonian thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHD) of rolling/sliding point contacts has been conducted. The two-dimensional Reynolds, elasticity and the three-dimensional energy equations were solved simultaneously to obtain the pressure, film thickness and temperature distribution within the lubricant film. The control volume approach was employed to discretize the differential equations and the multi-level multi-grid technique was used to simultaneously solve them. The discretized equations, as well as the nonorthogonal coordinate transformation used for the solution of the energy equation, are described. The pressure, film thickness and the temperature distributions, within the lubricant film at different loads, slip conditions and ellipticity parameters are presented.

Characteristics of Liquid Lubricant Films at the Nano-Scale

1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (4) ◽  
pp. 872-878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianbin Luo ◽  
Ping Huang ◽  
Shizhu Wen ◽  
Lawrence K. Y. Li
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Contact Region ◽  
Substrate Surface ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Thin Film Lubrication ◽  
Unusual Behavior ◽  
Running Time ◽  
Liquid Lubricant ◽  
Lubricant Viscosity

Characteristics of a liquid lubricant film at the nanometer scale are discussed in the present paper. The variations of the film thickness in a central contact region between a glass disk and a super-polished steel ball with lubricant viscosity, rolling speed, substrate surface tension, running time, load, etc. have been investigated. Experimental results show that the variation of film thickness in the thin film lubrication (TFL) regime is largely different from that in the elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) regime. The critical transition point from EHL to TFL is closely related to lubricant viscosity, surface energy of substrates, and so on. The film in TFL is much thicker than that calculated from the Hamrock-Dowson formula. An unusual behavior of the lubricant film has also been observed when the effect of the running time on the film thickness is considered. The time effect and the formation mechanism of the enhanced film in the running process have been discussed.

scholarly journals Grease film thickness measurement in rolling bearing contacts

2020 ◽  
pp. 135065012096127
Author(s):  
Xingnan Zhang ◽  
Romeo Glovnea
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Rolling Bearing ◽  
Thickness Measurement ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Rolling Element Bearings ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Rolling Bearings ◽  
Rolling Element ◽  
Film Thickness Measurement

Rolling bearings are the second most used machine components. They work in what it is called elastohydrodynamic lubrication regime. The geometry of rolling element bearings makes the direct measurement of the lubricant film thickness a challenging task. Optical interferometry is widely used in laboratory conditions for studying elastohydrodynamic lubrication however it cannot be used directly in rolling element bearings thus the only suitable methods are electrical techniques. Of these, film thickness measurement based on electrical capacitance of the contacts has been used in the past by a number of authors. One of the limitations of the capacitance method, when used in rolling bearings, is that it cannot distinguish between the contacts of every rolling element and raceway on one hand and on the other between the inner and outer ring contacts. In the present study the authors used an original test rig which can measure the film thickness for only one ball and separately for the inner and outer rings of a radial ball bearing. This paper thus shows for the first-time results of the lubricant film thickness, at the inner and outer raceways, in grease lubricated rolling bearings.

Numerical Solution of Mixed Thermal Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication in Point Contacts With Three-Dimensional Surface Roughness

2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaopeng Wang ◽  
Yuchuan Liu ◽  
Dong Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Film Thickness ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Point Contact ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Thickness Variation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Film Lubrication

Elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) is a common mode of fluid-film lubrication in which many machine elements operate. Its thermal behavior is an important concern especially for components working under extreme conditions such as high speeds, heavy loads, and surfaces with significant roughness. Previous thermal EHL (TEHL) studies focused only on the cases with smooth surfaces under the full-film lubrication condition. The present study intends to develop a more realistic unified TEHL model for point contact problems that is capable of simulating the entire transition of lubrication status from the full-film and mixed lubrication all the way down to boundary lubrication with real machined roughness. The model consists of the generalized Reynolds equation, elasticity equation, film thickness equation, and those for lubricant rheology in combination with the energy equation for the lubricant film and the surface temperature equations. The solution algorithms based on the improved semi-system approach have demonstrated a good ability to achieve stable solutions with fast convergence under severe operating conditions. Lubricant film thickness variation and temperature rises in the lubricant film and on the surfaces during the entire transition have been investigated. It appears that this model can be used to predict mixed TEHL characteristics in a wide range of operating conditions with or without three-dimensional (3D) surface roughness involved. Therefore, it can be employed as a useful tool in engineering analyses.

scholarly journals Maximizing the Lubricant Film Thickness Between a Rigid Microtextured and a Smooth Deformable Surface in Relative Motion, Using a Soft Elasto-Hydrodynamic Lubrication Model

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Quentin Allen ◽  
Bart Raeymaekers
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Hydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Hydrodynamic Pressure ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Lubricant Film Thickness ◽  
Texture Density ◽  
Film Lubrication

Abstract We design a pattern of microtexture features to increase hydrodynamic pressure and lubricant film thickness in a hard-on-soft bearing. We use a soft elastohydrodynamic lubrication model to evaluate the effect of microtexture design parameters and bearing operating conditions on the resulting lubricant film thickness and find that the maximum lubricant film thickness occurs with a texture density between 10% and 40% and texture aspect ratio between 1% and 14%, depending on the bearing load and operating conditions. We show that these results are similar to those of hydrodynamic textured bearing problems because the lubricant film thickness is almost independent of the stiffness of the bearing surfaces in full-film lubrication.

Effects of slide-roll ratio and lubricant properties on elastohydrodynamic lubrication film thickness and traction

2001 ◽  
Vol 215 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Lord ◽  
R Larsson
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Mineral Oil ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Thickness Reduction ◽  
Lubrication Film ◽  
Synthetic Ester ◽  
Lubricant Films ◽  
Two Factors

With tribology research aimed at decreasing energy consumption, two factors are inherently in focus: lubricant film thickness and traction. These factors are effectively decoupled and depend on lubricant properties which are sometimes contradictory-favourable for one factor and disadvantageous for the other. The film thickness ought to be maximized to reduce the number of asperities in contact and thus wear, whilst the traction should be minimized in order to reduce energy losses. In this experimental investigation the tested lubricants were investigated to see whether they possess beneficial properties for forming thick lubricant films under severe operating conditions while maintaining low traction forces. This is done by experimentally studying the film thickness reduction due to thermal and rheological effects for a fully flooded electrohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) contact. The base oils tested were a naphthenic mineral VG150, a synthetic poly-α-olefin VG68 and a synthetic ester VG46. It was found that the synthetic ester maintained a relatively thicker lubricant film during sliding than the poly-α-olefin and mineral oil. The film thickness reduction for the mineral oil was greater than for the poly-α-olefin.

Formation of Lubricant Film in Rotary Sealing Contacts: Part I—Lubricant Film Modeling

1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 280-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Gabelli ◽  
G. Poll
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Optical Observations ◽  
Low Friction ◽  
Statistical Parameters ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Lip Seals ◽  
Sealing Pressure

The lubricant film developed in rotary lip seals is a vital element in achieving long-lasting seals with low friction. In this paper the basic principles controlling the development of a lubricant film in lip seals are studied using a micro-hydrodynamic model. This model takes into account the visco-elastic effects of the rubber on the development of the sealing pressure. Central to the model’s hypothesis is the assumption of the predominant action of the surface micro-geometry in the formation of the lubricant film. Optical observations of the contact area of a lip seal, using blue light induced fluorescence, supported this concept. Using this basic lubrication model, the minimum and average film thickness and shear stress are calculated for different loading conditions, material stiffnesses and statistical parameters characterizing the micro-geometry of the sealing surfaces. In the model the effect of the viscoelastic properties of the rubber on the dynamic response of the seal and resulting pressure is also considered. To support the predictions of the theory, a new experimental method for the determination of the film thickness in elastomeric contacts is applied. Comparison between experimental and theoretical results indicates the ability of the model to deal with effects previously excluded from the analysis. The correlation between measured film thicknesses and thicknesses predicted using the present model was found to be good for the full range of speeds tested.

The Application of Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication Theory to Individual Asperity-Asperity Collisions

1969 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 464-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. E. Fowles
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
High Pressures ◽  
Contact Region ◽  
Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Viscosity Coefficient ◽  
Lubrication Theory ◽  
Lubricant Film ◽  
Collision Process ◽  
Sliding Speed

Conventional elastohydrodynamic theory is modified and applied to the collision between two idealized surface asperities in an isothermal sliding system. Solutions for the pressure and film thickness between the asperities as functions of their overlap, the sliding speed, the pressure-viscosity coefficient of the lubricant, and the time since the initiation of the collision are obtained numerically for the first half of the collision process. It is shown that extremely high pressures and small film thicknesses are to be expected at the center of the contact region assuming the rheology of the lubricant film can be represented by that of the bulk lubricant.

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