Analysis of guide modes in vertical hot ring rolling and their effects on the ring’s dimensional precision using FE method

In the vertical hot ring rolling (VHRR) process, roundness, outer radius, and width spread are three important indexes to the formed ring’s dimensional precision. In this paper, features of the guide modes of the VHRR process, such as single fixed guide mode (SFGM) and single follow-up guide mode (SFUGM), are analyzed to investigate their effects on the ring’s dimensional precision. The geometrical models of all the guide modes are then established and reliable three-dimensional coupled thermal-mechanical elastic-plastic FE models of the VHRR process are developed in ABAQUS/Explicit. Some key technologies, such as the guide roller’s motion control, are reasonably dealt with. The research results show that: (1) The roundness of the rings rolled by SFUGM is obviously superior to that of the ring rolled by SFGM. (2) With the same feed amount, the outer radius of the ring rolled by SFGM is always larger than that of the rings rolled by SFUGM. (3) During the rolling process of the ring rolled by SFGM, severe eccentricity will exist at the ring’s center, which is not obvious in the rolling process of the ring rolled by SFUGM. (4) The average value of width spread of the ring rolled by SFGM is slightly larger than that of the rings rolled by SFUGM. The research results can yield an understanding of some phenomena in the VHRR process. The modeling methods presented in this paper have general significance in the study of the VHRR process of the ring with complex profile.     

Effect of additives on a surface textured piston ring–cylinder liner system

ABSTRACT

Laser texturing of the surface is a known approach to improve the tribological performance of mechanical systems. Many studies focused on optimising surface texture parameters for the piston-ring cylinder liner (PRCL) system. However, little attention is given to explore the effect of the textured surface on additive film formation. In the present work, the effect of a laser textured surface on the formation of additives tribochemical films and its impact on the tribological performance of PRCL system is studied. Commercially available steel piston ring and grey cast iron cylinder liner are used as samples to carry out the experiments using linear reciprocating tribometer. Experiments are carried out at 75?N load, 0.1?Hz frequency and 80°C temperature, using polyalphaolefin as base oil mixed with different additives. It is found that dimples are interfering in the formation of tribo-chemical films. However, the hydrodynamic effect of dimples is contributing to the improvement of lubrication performance even in the presence of additives.