On the Behavior of Friction in Lubricated Point Contact With Provision for Surface Roughness

2009 ◽  
Vol 132 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Sojoudi ◽  
M. M. Khonsari

This paper presents a simple approach to predict the behavior of friction coefficient in the sliding lubricated point contact. Based on the load-sharing concept, the total applied load is supported by the combination of hydrodynamic film and asperity contact. The asperity contact load is determined in terms of maximum Hertzian pressure in the point contact while the fluid hydrodynamic pressure is calculated through adapting the available numerical solutions of elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) film thickness formula for smooth surfaces. The simulations presented cover the entire lubrication regime including full-film EHL, mixed-lubrication, and boundary-lubrication. The results of friction, when plotted as a function of the sum velocity, result in the familiar Stribeck-type curve. The simulations are verified by comparing the results with published experimental data. A parametric study is conducted to investigate the influence of operating condition on the behavior of friction coefficient. A series of simulations is performed under various operating conditions to explore the behavior of lift-off speed. An equation is proposed to predict the lift-off speed in sliding lubricated point contact, which takes into account the surface roughness.

1981 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 547-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. P. Evans ◽  
R. W. Snidle

The paper describes a numerical procedure for solving the point-contact elastohydrodynamic lubrication problem under isothermal conditions at moderate loads. Results are presented showing the shape of the film and variation of hydrodynamic pressure. Analysis of results for a range of operating conditions gives the following approximate formulas for minimum and central film thickness, repsectively: Hm = 1.9 M−0.17 L0.34 and Ho = 1.7 M−0.026 L0.40 where H, M, and L are the Moes and Bosma nondimensional groups. In common with earlier solutions based upon the forward-iterative method the solution breaks down under moderately heavily loaded conditions. Ways of extending the solution to heavier loads using the authors’ inverse solution of Reynolds’ equation under point-contact elastohydrodynamic conditions are discussed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Pu ◽  
Jiaxu Wang ◽  
Dong Zhu

Numerical solution of mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) is of great importance for the study of lubrication formation and breakdown, as well as surface failures of mechanical components. However, converged and accurate numerical solutions become more difficult, and solution process with a fixed single discretization mesh for the solution domain appears to be quite slow, especially when the lubricant films and surface contacts coexist with real-machined roughness involved. Also, the effect of computational mesh density is found to be more significant if the average film thickness is small. In the present study, a set of sample cases with and without machined surface roughness are analyzed through the progressive mesh densification (PMD) method, and the obtained results are compared with those from the direct iteration method with a single fixed mesh. Besides, more numerical analyses with and without surface roughness in a wide range of operating conditions are conducted to investigate the influence of different compound modes in order to optimize the PMD procedure. In addition, different initial conditions are used to study the effect of initial value on the behaviors of this transient solution. It is observed that, no matter with or without surface roughness considered, the PMD method is stable for transient mixed EHL problems and capable of significantly accelerating the EHL solution process while ensuring numerical accuracy.


Author(s):  
Amir Torabi ◽  
Saleh Akbarzadeh ◽  
Mohammadreza Salimpour

In this study, a numerical model is developed to show the performance improvement of a cam–follower mechanism when using a roller type follower compared to the flat-faced follower. Nonconformal geometry besides the thermal effects due to the shearing of the lubricant film results in formation of a thin film in which the asperities contribute in carrying the load. The numerical model is developed in which the geometry, load, speed, lubricant properties, and the surface roughness profile is taken as input and the film thickness and friction coefficient as a function of cam angle are predicted. The asperities are assumed to have elastic, elasto-plastic, and plastic deformation. Simulation results indicated that the thermal effects cannot be neglected. Surface roughness is also a key parameter that affects the pressure distribution, film thickness, and friction coefficient. Finally, asperity and hydrodynamic pressure is reported and the performance of the two mechanisms is compared. Roller follower has a considerable preference in terms of friction coefficient compared to flat-faced follower. The minimum film thickness, however, is slightly larger in the flat follower.


Author(s):  
G Karami ◽  
H P Evans ◽  
R W Snidle

The paper describes an isothermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication analysis of rollers having circumferential sinusoidal roughness. Theoretical results are shown which demonstrate the influence of roughness amplitude on the distribution of hydrodynamic pressure and film thickness at constant load and constant roughness wavelength. At a large roughness amplitude the hydrodynamic pressure in the valleys between asperity contacts is insignificant and each asperity contact behaves as an ‘isolated’ elastohydrodynamic point contact. As the roughness is reduced, however, the valley pressures build up, the pressure becomes more uniformly distributed in the axial direction and the minimum film thickness increases.


2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaopeng Wang ◽  
Yuchuan Liu ◽  
Dong Zhu

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.


2013 ◽  
Vol 371 ◽  
pp. 581-585
Author(s):  
George Constantin Puiu ◽  
Vasile Puiu

In point contact related applications (ball bearings, ball-screws) the minimum and the central film thickness of lubricant have a particular importance. The literature presents various numerical solutions to determine these parameters in the case of elliptical contacts [1-4]. Most of them refer to the fully developed elastohydrodynamic lubrication regime (EHD). Hamrock [5] proposes four different lubrication regimes depending on the size and importance of two physical phenomena that occur in contact: elastic deformation of the bodies in contact under a given load and lubricant viscosity variation of contact pressure. These four lubrication regimes have specific relations for calculating the two parameters. Also, Hamrock [5] develops a methodology for identifying the lubrication regime in a point contact, depending on three dimensionless parameters: the ellipticity parameter; the viscosity parameter; the elasticity parameter. According to the viscosity and elasticity parameters, for each value of the ellipticity parameter a map of lubrication regimes can be built. These parameters are influenced by the materials and geometry of the bodies in contact and operating conditions. By using the methodology [5] a comprehensive analysis regarding the lubrication regimes in contacts between balls and races of a ball screw drive has been done. Thus, a complex program to draw lubrication regimes maps, starting from an imposed geometry and from given operating conditions, has been developed. The developed maps have revealed the different lubrication regimes that can occur in contacts between the balls and races on the screw and nut. It was also revealed, for a given type of screw, which are the load and speed limits that allow transition from an isoviscous-rigid regime of lubrication (IVR) / hydrodynamic (HD) to an elastohydrodynamic lubrication regime (EHD). For each lubrication regime, relations were used for calculating the appropriate minimum thickness of lubricant film, hence the major importance of accurate knowledge of lubrication regime.


Author(s):  
M. F. Abd-AlSamieh ◽  
H Rahnejat

This paper presents the results of numerical prediction of the lubricant film thickness and pressure distribution in concentrated counterformal point contact under isothermal conditions. The operating conditions, which include load and speed of entraining motion, promote the formation of ultra-thin films; these are formed under the combined action of elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL), the surface contact force of solvation and molecular interactions due to the presence of Van der Waals forces. A numerical solution has been carried out, using the low-relaxation Newton-Raphson iteration technique, applied to the convergence of the hydrodynamic pressure. The paper shows that the effect of surface forces become significant as the elastic film (i.e. the gap) is reduced to a few nanometres. The numerical predictions have been shown to conform well to the numerical work and experimental findings of other research workers.


2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Akbarzadeh ◽  
M. M. Khonsari

A model is developed for predicting the performance of spur gears with provision for surface roughness. For each point along the line of action, the contact of pinion and gear is replaced by that of two cylinders. The radii of cylinders, transmitted load, and contact stress are calculated, and lubricant film thickness is obtained using the load-sharing concept of Johnson et al. (1972, “A Simple Theory of Asperity Contact in Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication,” Wear, 19, pp. 91–108) To validate the analysis, the predicted film thickness and the friction coefficient are compared to published theoretical and experimental data. The model is capable of predicting the performance of gears with non-Newtonian lubricants—such as that of shear thinning lubricants—often used in gears. For this purpose, a correction factor for shear thinning film thickness introduced by Bair (2005, “Shear Thinning Correction for Rolling/Sliding Electrohydrodynamic Film Thickness,” Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part J: J. Eng. Tribol., 219, pp. 1–6) has been employed. The results of a series of simulations presenting the effect of surface roughness on the friction coefficient are presented and discussed. The results help to establish the lubrication regime along the line of action of spur gears.


Author(s):  
Nguyen Van Liem ◽  
Wu Zhenpeng ◽  
Jiao Renqiang

The effect of the shape/size and distribution of microgeometries of textures on improving the tribo-performance of crankpin bearing is proposed. Based on a combined model of the slider-crank mechanism dynamic and hydrodynamic lubrication, the distribution density, area density, and shape of spherical textures, square-cylindrical textures, wedge-shaped textures, and a hybrid between spherical texture and square-cylindrical texture on the crankpin bearing's tribo-performance are investigated under different operating conditions of the engine. The tribological characteristic of the crankpin bearing is then evaluated via the indexes of the oil film pressure p, asperity contact force, friction force, and friction coefficient of the crankpin bearing. The research results show that the distribution density with n = 12 and m = 6, and area density with α = 30% of various microtextures have an obvious effect on ameliorating the crankpin bearings tribo-performance. Concurrently, at the mixed lubrication region, the shape of the square-cylindrical texture on improving the tribo-performance is better than the other shapes of the spherical texture, wedge-shaped texture, and spherical and square-cylindrical texture. Particularly, all the average values of the asperity contact force, friction force, and friction coefficient with a square-cylindrical texture are significantly reduced by 14.6%, 19.5%, and 34.5%, respectively, in comparison without microtextures. Therefore, the microtextures of the spherical texture applied on the bearing surface can contribute to enhance the durability and decrease the friction power loss of the engine.


Author(s):  
Eduardo de la Guerra Ochoa ◽  
Javier Echávarri Otero ◽  
Enrique Chacón Tanarro ◽  
Benito del Río López

This article presents a thermal resistances-based approach for solving the thermal-elastohydrodynamic lubrication problem in point contact, taking the lubricant rheology into account. The friction coefficient in the contact is estimated, along with the distribution of both film thickness and temperature. A commercial tribometer is used in order to measure the friction coefficient at a ball-on-disc point contact lubricated with a polyalphaolefin base. These data and other experimental results available in the bibliography are compared to those obtained by using the proposed methodology, and thermal effects are analysed. The new approach shows good accuracy for predicting the friction coefficient and requires less computational cost than full thermal-elastohydrodynamic simulations.


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