Effect of surface topography associated with arbitrary velocity direction on the lubrication film thickness in elliptical contacts
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to describe and observe the effect of surface topography associated with arbitrary directions of rolling and sliding velocities on the performance of lubricating films in elliptical contacts.
Design/methodology/approach
The most recently published mixed elastohydrodynamic (EHL) model by Pu and Zhu is used. Three different machined rough surfaces are discussed and the correlated inclined angle of surface velocity varies from 0° to 90° in the analyzed cases. These cases are carried out in a wide range of speeds (five orders of magnitude) while the simulated lubrication condition covers full-film and mixed EHL down to the boundary lubrication.
Findings
The results indicate that the variation of the average film thickness corresponding to different entrainment angles is distinct from those without considering surface roughness. In addition, the surface topography appears to have an immense effect on the lubrication film thickness in the exceptive situation.
Originality/value
This paper has not been published previously. Surface roughness has attracted much attention for many years owing to the significant influence on lubricating property. However, previous studies mainly focus on the counterformal contact with the same direction between surface velocity and principal axis of the contact zone. Little attention has been paid to the specific condition with the arbitrary direction of rolling and sliding velocities found in hypoid gears and worm, and some other components. The purpose of this study is to describe and observe the effect of surface topography associated with arbitrary directions of rolling and sliding velocities on the performance of lubricating films in elliptical contacts based on the most recently published mixed EHL model by Pu and Zhu.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The present study is partially supported by NSFC (National Science Foundation of China) Project 51435001 and 51475051. The authors would like to thank advisor Prof Dong Zhu for the help on the mixed EHL model and valuable advice. Wei Pu would like to thank the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities No.YJ201752.
Citation
Pu, W., Wang, J., Zhou, G., Xiao, K. and Li, J. (2018), "Effect of surface topography associated with arbitrary velocity direction on the lubrication film thickness in elliptical contacts", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 70 No. 2, pp. 444-452. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-09-2016-0206
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited