Elastic deformation in thin film hydrodynamic lubrication

An elastohydrodynamic numerical simulation is conducted for one-dimensional fixed slider plane bearings. The numerical model takes into account the piezoviscous effect of the lubricant and elastic deformation of the bounding surfaces to solve the one-dimensional Reynolds equation. It is found that a small elastic deformation of less than 100 nm plays an important role in load capacity in thin film hydrodynamic lubrication. As the film thickness decreases, a flat film shape appears from the leading side of the contact area. The expansion of the flat film thickness over the contact area leads to considerably lower load capacity.     

面接触润滑条件下表面形貌对动压润滑的影响

利用课题组自主研发的面接触光干涉油膜厚度测量系统,对表面凹槽滑块的流体动压润滑油膜厚度进行了试验测量.试验中以静止的微型凹槽滑块平面和旋转的光学透明圆盘平面构成润滑副,且两润滑平面始终保持平行;在载荷固定的条件下,对油膜厚度—速度曲线进行测量.结果表明凹槽的宽度、深度、方向和位置等因素对油膜厚度有着重要影响.     

Interferometry Measurement of Lubricating Films in Slider-On-Disc Contacts

Interferometry proves to be an efficient way to measure thin lubricant film thickness. However, there are very few reports on the film thickness measurement of conformal lubricated contacts using optical interferometry due to experimental difficulties. In this article, a custom-built test apparatus is introduced, in which a lubricated conformal contact is made between a stationary fixed-incline slider and a moving transparent disc. With a flexible holder, the slider can be positioned in such a way that a specified inclination with respect to the flat disc plane can be obtained. When the disc rotates and the slider is loaded against it, lubricating films are generated. The minimum film thickness h _m at the exit can be determined by interference intensity changes. Measurement error correction in the film thickness was discussed. Case experiments were carried out using the new test apparatus. The credibility of the measurement system is validated by good correlation between the experiments and the theoretical results. The applicability is demonstrated by the film thickness measurement under different inclinations, loads, velocities, lubricants and slider materials. Amongst those case experiments, it is highlighted that the influences of solid/liquid interface properties on the lubrication behaviours can be clearly identified in terms of film thickness.     

Effect of surface texturing on elastohydrodynamically lubricated contact under transient speed conditions

Effect of surface topography modifications on lubrication film thickness within non-conformal lubricated contact operated under transient speed conditions is observed. Optical test rig is used to observe the lubricant film behaviour between the flat surface of a chromium coated glass disc and a steel ball under simplified operational conditions modelling the cam and tappet contact. Numerical simulation was used to be able to choose the operating conditions suitable for experiments. An array of micro-dents was produced on the ball surface to be able to demonstrate the effect of surface topography on lubrication film formation. Experiments were carried out under elastohydrodynamic lubrication conditions. Obtained results have shown that surface texturing could represent the way how to increase lubrication efficiency of rolling/sliding non-conformal contacts under transient operational conditions through the lubricant emitted from micro-dents. It was found that the lubricant emitted from the micro-dents helps to separate rubbing surfaces especially under thin film lubrication conditions where the rubbing surfaces moves in the opposite direction.     

Effect of Interfacial Properties on EHL Under Pure Sliding Conditions

This paper presents an experimental study of the effect of boundary slip on the lubricating film shape and friction of an elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) contact under isothermal conditions. Ball and disc pure sliding experiments were carried out with a high viscosity polybutene oil using a conventional optical EHL test rig. The film shape and friction were measured simultaneously. The results obtained from two discs with different coatings were compared. One disc was coated only with Cr, the partially reflective layer, and the other had an extra layer of SiO₂ coating on top. When running under mild conditions of low load and speed, there was no evidence of any boundary slip effect. However, when the load increased, the Cr-coated disc produced lower film thickness and friction than the SiO₂-coated disc. The Cr-coated surface had a larger contact angle, i.e., smaller surface energy, than the SiO₂ surface, which reflects the weak bonding between the molecules of the surface and the lubricant. The study concludes that surfaces with low surface energy promote boundary slip at the EHL contact, leading to a reduction in friction and film thickness.     

流体动压润滑油膜厚度及油池的荧光测量

基于面接触润滑油膜厚度荧光测量系统,研究润滑油中荧光剂强度与剪应变率的关系,筛选得到适合油膜厚度测量的润滑油和荧光剂的组合,并研究荧光强度和油膜厚度之间的关系。结果表明:R6G荧光剂和PEG400润滑油组合与Coumarin6荧光剂和PAO8润滑油组合的荧光强度不受剪应变率影响,可用于油膜厚度的荧光测量;荧光强度和油膜厚度存在单值线性关系,通过测量荧光强度可以求解油膜厚度。建立接触区周围油膜厚度及油池分布的测量方法,研究载荷和速度对油膜厚度以及接触区周围润滑剂的迁移特性的影响。结果表明:油膜厚度随速度增加而增加,随载荷增加而减小;随着速度增加,滑块入口处油池产生润滑剂堆积,出口处油池出现双侧脊分离,两侧面油池无明显变化;油池的变化是表面力、机械分离力和离心力综合作用的结果。     

Effects of ultra-thin liquid lubricant films on contact slider dynamics in hard-disk drives

This paper describes the effects of ultra-thin liquid lubricant films on contact slider dynamics in hard-disk drives. In the experiments, the contact slider dynamics as well as ultra-thin liquid lubricants behavior are investigated using three types of lubricants, which have different end-groups and molecular weight as a function of lubricant film thickness. The dynamics of a contact slider is mainly monitored using acoustic emission (AE). The disks are also examined with a scanning micro-ellipsometer before and after contact slider experiments. It is found that the lubricant film thickness instability occurs as a result of slider–disk contacts, when the lubricant film thickness is thicker than one monolayer. Their unstable lubricant behavior depends on the chemical structure of functional end-groups and molecular weight. In addition, it is also found that the AE RMS values, which indicate the contact slider dynamics, are almost same, independent of the end-groups and molecular weight for the lubricants, when the lubricant film thickness is approximately one monolayer. The molecular weight, however, affects the contact slider dynamics, when the lubricant film thickness is less than one monolayer. In other words, the AE RMS values increase remarkably as the molecular weight for the lubricant increases. When the lubricant film thickness is more than one monolayer, the AE RMS values decrease because of the effect of mobile lubricant layer, while the lubricant instability affects the contact slider dynamics. Therefore, it may be concluded that the lubricant film thickness should be designed to be approximately one monolayer thickness region in order to achieve contact recording for future head–disk interface.     

The Effectiveness of Boundary and Hydrodynamic Lubrication when Cold Rolling Aluminum Metal

How hydrodynamic and boundary lubrication affect a lubricant's film strength when cold rolling aluminum was studied using a laboratory mill. The film strength of the lubricant was determined by increasing the amount of reduction until a rapid rise in load and temperature produced a herringbone pattern on the surface of the metal. The hydrodynamic lubrication was changed by increasing the viscosity of the base oil or by increasing the rolling speed. The boundary lubrication was changed by increasing the concentration of the additives or by changing the type of additives. The results of the test showed that either increasing the amount of the hydrodynamic lubrication or increasing the amount of the boundary lubrication were effective ways to increase the film strength of the lubricant; however, the effectiveness of each decreased as the calculated film thickness of the lubricant increased. It is proposed that this can be explained by the decrease in contact area between the work roll asperities and the surface of the sheet as the thickness of the lubricant film increases.     

Substrate surface energy effects on a liquid lubricant film at nanometre scalesubstrate surface energy effects on a liquid lubricant film at nanometre scale

In this paper is discussed the effect of the physical characteristics of substrate surfaces on the lubrication properties of thin films at nanometre scale. Different coatings with different surface energies have been formed on the surface of a steel ball by means of plasma assisted sedimentation (PAS). The ball was put in a pure rolling system in point contact, where the lubricant film is measured by relative optical interference intensity (ROII). Experimental results show that the film thickness is closely related to the substrate surface energy when the film is in the nanometre scale, and that the combined surface roughness in the contact region is closely related to the liquid lubricant film thickness and the contact pressure. The thinner the film and the higher the contact pressure, the smaller will be the combined surface roughness. Lastly, the relationship between critical film thickness and its influencing factors is discussed.     

Behavior of real roughness features within mixed lubricated non-conformal contacts

A combination of thin film colorimetric interferometry and phase shifting interferometry was used to study the effect of slide-to-roll ratio on the micro-elastohydrodynamic action and asperity-contact mechanism on the real asperity scale. The behavior of the roughness features of different scales in very thin film, real rough surface elastohydrodynamic contacts was observed from chromatic interferograms evaluated by thin film colorimetric interferometry. Obtained film thickness distribution was compared with undeformed ball surface topography measured by phase shifting interferometry. It was confirmed that the presence of deep grooves within lubricated contact can result in lubrication film breakdown under positive slide-to-roll ratio conditions when the rough surface is moving slower than the smooth surface. Negative slide-to-roll ratio conditions are much less critical from this point of view. Moreover, shallow pits formed naturally on rubbing surface as a result of surface finishing process were observed to significantly influence the film thickness formation. They act as lubricant micro-reservoirs and emit the lubricant into the contact under rolling/sliding conditions that enlarges film thickness. Such a behavior also suggests the possible beneficial tribological effect of surface texturing based on shallow micro-cavities under mixed lubrication of non-conformal surfaces.     

The effect of surface texturing on thin EHD lubrication films

Surface texturing has been successfully used for conformal contacts in many tribological applications in an effort to diminish friction and wear. However, the use of such a surface modifications are still in nascent as far as highly loaded contacts between non-conformal surfaces are concerned. It is mainly caused by the fact that the presence of such micro-features within these contacts can significantly influence the pressure distribution within the contact. Nevertheless, it has been shown in recent studies that the surface texturing can also have beneficial tribological effects if the depth of micro-features is properly designed. This paper is devoted to the experimental study of the effect of the micro-dents of various depths on thin lubrication films to find an experimental evidence of the micro-feature depth threshold for surface texturing applications in highly loaded non-conformal surfaces. The behaviour of an array of micro-dents within thin EHD contacts has been studied by thin film colorimetric interferometry. The influence of surface texturing on lubricant film formation has been observed under sliding/rolling conditions. The significant effect of micro-dents depth on lubricant film thickness is observed for positive slide-to-roll ratio when the disc is moving faster than the micro-textured ball. The presence of deep micro-dents within lubricated contact results in film thickness reduction downstream. As the depth of micro-dents is reduced, this effect diminishes and beneficial effect of micro-dents on film thickness formation has been observed. No significant influence of micro-dents depth on lubricant film shape has been observed in case of negative slide-to-roll conditions when micro-dents do not cause film thickness reduction regardless of their depths.     

面接触油膜润滑测量系统

介绍了一种能够实现面接触油膜润滑测量的试验系统,该系统以静止的刚性滑块和旋转的透明玻璃盘组成润滑副。滑块的定位采用柔性并联机构,可进行面接触倾角的微小调节。油膜厚度测量采用多光束干涉技术。照明采用激光外部同轴照明,可有效扩大图像视场和膜厚的测量范围。利用该系统测量了恒倾角面接触薄膜润滑的膜厚特性和摩擦力特性,结果与已有理论有较好的一致性。     

Hydrodynamic lubrication of the ironing process

A theoretical model is presented to calculate the lubricant film thickness in an unsteady hydrodynamic lubrication of cup-shaped products to be formed by the ironing process. The model covers the development of hydrodynamic lubrication in various phases of the ironing process. The model provides equations for estimating the lubricant film thickness for each phase. Experiments were conducted to study the effect of lubricant viscosity on die expansion and punch force in making cup-shaped products by the ironing process. It was found that the die expansion varied between unlubricated and lubricated cups and depended on the lubricant viscosity. The film thickness was estimated from the difference between the increased die/punch clearance, which was calculated from the expansion, and the lubricated cup wall thickness. The theoretical film thickness was compared with the estimated film thickness based on the die expansion measurement.     

Thermal point contact EHL analysis of rolling/sliding contacts with experimental comparison showing anomalous film shapes

The paper presents an experimental and numerical investigation of non-conformal lubricated contacts in which anomalous film shapes occur. The experiments were concerned with the contact between a steel ball and the plane surface of a glass disc at various slide-roll ratios. A paraffin base mineral oil was used as a lubricant and friction coefficients and film thicknesses were measured. It was found that for slide-roll ratios with the disk moving faster anomalous elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) films were obtained characterized by a “dimple” in the central region of the contact. Numerical thermal-elastohydrodynamic analyses were carried out to simulate both film thickness and friction corresponding to the experimental conditions using Newtonian and Ree-Eyring rheological models. Initial results from this study suggest that neither of these lubricant models predict the correct detailed film shape and the experimental friction at the same time. An alternative lubricant model including both thermal and limiting shear stress effects (wall slippage) is currently under development.     

Effect of shot peening on rolling contact fatigue and lubricant film thickness within mixed lubricated non-conformal rolling/sliding contacts

The effect of shot peening on rolling contact fatigue (RCF) and lubricant film thickness within non-conformal rolling/sliding contacts operated under mixed lubrication conditions was observed in this study. Rolling contact fatigue tests and film thickness measurements were carried out using specimens with modified surface topography by shot peening process using glass beads having diameter between 0.07 and 0.11 mm. It has been shown that the effect of shot peening on RCF has no positive effect even if shot peened surface of the roller exhibited somewhat higher hardness in contrast to the grounded surface. The reduction of RCF may be caused due to asperities interactions because after shot peening the surface roughness of the roller was increased. Film thickness measurements confirmed that the contact is realized actually only between asperity peaks of shot peened ball and smooth disc.Conversely, no negative effect on RCF was observed when the shot peened surface of the roller was polished. The polish of asperity peaks causes the creation of lands and micro-cavities, which may be employed as lubricant micro-reservoirs. From film thickness measurements it has been observed that lubricant emitted by shallow micro-cavities can provide the local increase in lubrication film thickness, which thereby reduces asperities interactions. Similar results were obtained for start-up conditions where the squeeze lubricant enlarges film thickness and reduces surface interactions.From the obtained results, it can be suggested that properly designed surface topography modification could help to increase the efficiency of lubrication films leading to the enhancement of contact fatigue life of non-conformal mixed lubricated rolling/sliding contacts.     

Hydrodynamic lubrication analysis for tube spinning process

A theoretical analysis based on the two dimensional isothermal Reynolds equation was developed for the hydrodynamic lubrication of the tube spinning process. The linear velocity of the forming tool and rotational velocity of the mandrel both influence the establishment of a hydrodynamic lubricant film thickness at the inlet zone. Formation of a hydrodynamic lubricant film thickness at the inside of the tube is ruled by the eccentricity of the mandrel and tube. The theoretical and experimental estimates of film thickness were compared and are in agreement.     

Hydrodynamic lubrication of textured steel surfaces under reciprocating sliding conditions

The influence of surface topography on lubricant film thickness has been investigated for the reciprocating sliding of patterned plane steel surfaces against cylindrical counterbodies under conditions of hydrodynamic lubrication. Patterns of circular depressions, grooves and chevrons were used, and the fractional area coverage, depth, width and sliding orientation relative to the texture were systematically varied. Textured samples with features much larger than the elastic contact width gave film thicknesses, which were smaller than those for non-textured samples. This effect was more significant for larger features. For patterns composed of circular pockets, maximum film thickness was achieved for an area coverage fraction f≈0.11. Chevron patterns pointing along the sliding direction gave higher film thicknesses than those pointing across. For an area coverage ratio of ca. 0.06, maximum film thickness was achieved for a feature depth to width ratio of about 0.07. Among the patterns investigated, chevrons were the most effective and grooves the least effective in increasing hydrodynamic film thickness.     

Non-newtonian thermal analysis of an EHD contact lubricated with MIL-L-23699 oil

A thermal and non-Newtonian fluid model under elastohydrodynamic lubrication conditions is proposed, integrating some particularities, such as the separation between hydrodynamic and dissipative phenomena inside the contact. The concept of apparent viscosity is used to introduce the non-Newtonian behaviour of the lubricant and the thermal behaviour of the contact into the Reynolds equation, acting as a link element between the hydrodynamic and dissipative components of the EHD film, independently of the rheological and thermal models considered. The apparent viscosity enables the application of the rheological model better adapted to each lubricant, without appealing to special formulations of the EHD problem.The Newton–Raphson technique is used to obtain the lubricant film geometry and the pressure distribution inside the EHD contact. The shear stresses developed in the fluid film are evaluated assuming the non-linear Maxwell rheological model. The surfaces and lubricant temperature distributions are determined using the simplified Houpert's method, applied to the inlet contact zone, and the thermal method proposed by Tevaarwerk is applied in the high pressure contact zone.The non-Newtonian thermal EHD model is applied to the analysis of a contact lubricated with MIL-L-23699 oil. Significant results are obtained for the centre and minimum film thickness, for the inlet shear heating and film thickness reduction factor (φ_T), for the temperature rise of the lubricant and of the surfaces and for the friction coefficient inside the contact, considering wide ranges of the operating conditions (maximum Hertzian pressure, inlet oil temperature, rolling speed and slide-to-roll ratio).Finally, the numerical traction curves determined are compared with the corresponding experimental results, showing very good correlation.     

Deterministic solutions and thermal analysis for mixed lubrication in point contacts

A deterministic numerical model has been developed for simulation of mixed lubrication in point contacts. The nominal contact area between rough surfaces can be divided into two parts: the regions for hydrodynamic lubrication and asperity contacts (boundary lubrication). In the area where the film thickness approaches zero the Reynolds equation can be modified into a reduced form and the normal pressure in the region of asperity contacts can be thus determined. As a result, a deterministic numerical solution for the mixed lubrication can be obtained through a unite system of equations and the same numerical scheme. In thermal analysis, the solution for a moving point heat source has been integrated numerically to get surface temperature, provided that shear stresses in both regions of hydrodynamic lubrication and asperity contacts have been predetermined. A rheology model based on the limit shear stress of lubricant is proposed while calculating the shear stress, which gives a smooth transition of friction forces between the hydrodynamic and contact regions. The computations prove the model to be a powerful tool to provide deterministic solutions for mixed lubrication over a wide range of film thickness, from full-film to the lubrication with very low lambda ratio, even down to the region where the asperity contact dominates.     

Elastohydrodynamic Films Under Periodic Load Variation: An Experimental and Theoretical Approach

The elastohydrodynamic lubrication regime occurs in systems where large elastic deformations, the hydrodynamic action of a converging wedge and eventually large variation of viscosity of the fluid combine to determine the formation of a continuous fluid film that separates the solid surfaces. Experimental and theoretical works, over the past few decades, have elucidated the role of various working and material parameters on the lubricant film thickness which plays a crucial role in protecting the solid surfaces from direct contact and ultimately from failure. These mechanisms are well understood for steady-state conditions; however, elastohydrodynamic contacts most often experience transient conditions, including variation of geometry, velocity of surfaces or load. In this case, the mechanisms of film formation are more complex involving film squeeze in addition to the mechanisms mentioned above. Experimental and theoretical modelling of transient phenomena in elastohydrodynamic lubrication include sudden variation of entrainment speed or load and changing geometry. No systematic experimental study on the effect of harmonic load vibration upon the elastohydrodynamic films has been published before. In order to cover this gap, this paper presents the results of an experimental study and of a simple theoretical approach on the behaviour of the elastohydrodynamic film thickness under harmonic variation of load.