Load-Bearing Capacity Investigation of Friction Pairs in Hydro-Viscous Drive Based on Fractal Contact Theory

Hydro-viscous drive has gained extensive application in fans, pumps, belt conveyors, and scraper conveyors for step-less speed regulating, soft starting, and overload protection. In the mixed friction stage, the state of contact and load-bearing capacity are always changing with the pressure of control oil. In order to predict the load-bearing capacity of friction pairs, a description of the frictional and hydrodynamic lubrication states was first made. Oil film’s pressure distribution and load-bearing capacity were analyzed with the average flow model. The fractal contact model of the asperity surface was proposed for simulating mutual contact state and contact load between the asperities. The influences of fractal parameters on the contact performance of friction pairs were conducted. Eventually, test rig of load-bearing capacity was established. As indicated by the experiment, asperity contact area and load-bearing capacity of the asperity contact increase slowly at first and then rapidly with reduced film thickness ratio. Correspondingly, oil film load-bearing capacity progressively reduces. Due to the reduction of film thickness ratio, friction pairs’ load-bearing capacity increases gradually. The load-bearing capacity of friction pairs is affected by the fractal dimension and scale factor. Results of the experiment well conform to the theoretical values, which illustrates that friction pairs’ load-bearing capacity can be accurately predicted and computed using the average flow model and M-B fractal contact model. The calculation offers a theoretical reference to the survey about friction and torque properties of the hydro-viscous drive.

Research on Mixed Lubrication Problems of the Non-Gaussian Rough Textured Surface With the Influence of Stochastic Roughness in Consideration

In order to find the effects of surface topography on the tribological properties of the rough textured surfaces, an improved mixed lubrication model allowing specifying the standard deviation, the skewness, and the kurtosis was developed. In this model, by considering the non-Gaussian properties of rough surfaces, an improved average flow model was combined with a modified statistical elastoplastic asperity contact model. The performances of the slider bearings with two arrays of anisotropic textures were studied in terms of Stribeck curves. It appears that the tribological properties of the anisotropic textures are sensitive to the sliding direction. Meanwhile, the surfaces with more negative skewness or the lower kurtosis can obtain better tribological performances related to friction and wear.

An Analysis of the Lubrication Characteristics of Mechanical Seals with Parallel Sealing Faces Using an Average Flow Model

A new average flow model to analyze the lubrication characteristics of mechanical seals with parallel sealing faces is proposed. The present model determines the flow factors considering the side leakage under the operating condition equivalent to that in the mechanical seal. The correction factor for the expected hydrodynamic pressure generated by the relative motion of rough surfaces is also defined. The results are compared with those based on the Patir’s average flow model and show that the present model can be effective for the analysis of the lubrication characteristics of mechanical seals with parallel sealing faces.

An EHD-mixed lubrication analysis of main bearings for diesel engine based on coupling between flexible whole engine block and crankshaft

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a good calculation model to accurately predict the lubrication characteristic of main bearings of diesel engine and improve the service life. Design/methodology/approach – Based on the coupling of the whole flexible engine block and the flexible crankshaft reduced by the Component Mode Synthesis (CMS) method, considering mass-conserving boundary conditions, the average flow model equation and Greenwood/Tripp asperity contact theory, an elastohydrodynamic (EHD)-mixed lubrication model of the main bearings for the diesel engine is developed and researched with the finite volume method and the finite element method. Findings – Obviously, the mixed lubrication of bearings is normal, while full hydrodynamic lubrication is transient. The results show that under the whole flexible block model, maximum oil film pressure, maximum asperity contact pressure and radial shell deformation decrease, while minimum oil film thickness increases. Oil flow over edge decreases, and so does friction loss. Therefore, coordination deformation ability of whole engine block is favorable to mean load. In the whole block model, friction contact happens on both upper shell and lower shell positions. In addition, average oil film fill ratio at the key position becomes smaller in the whole engine block model, and consequently increases the chances of cavitations erosion more. So, wearing resistance of both upper and lower shells and anti-cavitations erosion ability must be enhanced simultaneously. Originality/value – Based on the coupling of the whole flexible engine block and the flexible crankshaft reduced by the CMS method, considering mass-conserving boundary conditions, the average flow model equation and Greenwood/Tripp asperity contact theory, an EHD-mixed lubrication model of the main bearings for the diesel engine is built, which can predict the lubrication of journal bearings more accurately.