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.     

The Formation of Viscous Surface Films by Polymer Solutions: Boundary or Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication?

The film-forming properties of a range of polymer solutions have been studied down to very thin film thickness using ultrathin film interferometry.

It has been found that, at very slow rolling speeds, some polymers generate much thicker films than predicted from theory. It appears that these polymers form adsorbed layers between three and 15 nanometers thick on the two solid surfaces. These layers have a viscosity many times higher than that of the bulk solution. Therefore, under slow speed, low film thickness conditions, the contact effectively operates within a viscous boundary layer, generating an elastohydrodynamic-type film much thicker than predicted from the viscosity of the bulk lubricant. As the speed is raised the contact emerges from this boundary layer and reverts to elastohydrodynamic behavior based upon the viscosity of the bulk polymer solution.     

化学反应膜对齿面润滑状态影响的研究

通过对齿面微观接触以及流体膜承载能力和边界膜承载能力相互关系的分析，从化学反应膜形成速度与磨损速度的平衡关系入手，建立了齿面化学反应膜对齿面润滑状态影响的数学模型，并通过试验验证了这一模型。结果表明：合适的化学反应膜，使表面形貌向着有利于润滑方向发展，使边界润滑向弹性流体润滑状态转变，从而提高齿面的承载能力。     

A Limiting Solution for the Dependence of Film Thickness on Velocity in EHL Contacts with Very Thin Films

In recent years there have been substantial improvements in the capabilities of numerical modeling of elastohydrodynamic lubricant (EHL) films and it is now possible to analyze a very wide range of conditions rather than needing to rely on extrapolation using classical film thickness regression equations such as those of Dowson and Higginson. However, a new controversy has arisen concerning the film thickness-velocity dependence in EHL contacts at very low speeds and high loads, with some predictions showing a film thickness much less than that predicted by the classical equations. The present article applies the well-established limiting analysis, first presented by Grubin-Ertel, to the inlet of the EHL contact. It is shown that when the load is high and the speed is low (and the pressure gradient is very high in the inlet) an accurate resolution of the inlet pressure rise is critical for the determination of the film thickness. Discretization errors of this type might be responsible for discrepancies between the classical equations and some recently published numerical predictions.     

Investigation into the seizure of hydraulic motors

Despite its practical significance, the occurrence of seizure in tribological systems has not been fully understood. In this work, extensive actual tests on hydraulic motors under extreme operating conditions of low viscosity, high pressure and speed have been conducted with a view to investigate and understand the seizure mechanism. Some of the motors failed and they were stopped at different stages of progressive seizure. Based on these investigations, a three stage seizure process has been suggested. Stage 1 involves the breakdown of hydrodynamic oil film between roller and piston which leads to increased friction, thermal expansion and increased leakage. In stage 2, scuffing is initiated either between roller and piston or between piston and cylinder. During stage 3 scuffing propagate to several pistons.     

Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication in Extended Parameter Ranges—Part IV: Effect of Material Properties©

The present study extends the full numerical EHL solution to wide parameter ranges that cover practical and severe operating conditions commonly found in heavy-duty components. This article is the fourth part of the present study, and is focused on the effect of material properties on the film thickness, following three previous papers that investigated the effects of speed, load, and contact geometry, respectively. In this article, the pressure-viscosity coefficient is varied in a range from zero to 72.8 GPa^?1 and the elastic modulus from 80 to 400 GPa, sufficiently wide to cover different materials and lubricants commonly used in industries. More than 500 cases have been analyzed, and results show that in the extended parameter ranges the relationships between the material properties and the film thickness still primarily follow the simple power rules proposed by the conventional EHL theory. However, the exponents in the power-law functions no longer appear to be constants. They are indeed functions of speed and load. For the relationship between the pressure-viscosity coefficient and the central film thickness, the exponent appears to be quite close to 0.53 proposed by the Hamrock-Dowson formula if the speed and the load are moderate. When the speed is low and/or the load is heavy, this exponent may be considerably greater. The same trend is observed for the relationship between the elastic modulus and the film thickness. At moderate loads and speeds, the exponent is close to ?0.073, which is used in the Hamrock and Dowson formula. When the speed is decreased and/or the load increased, the exponent may become positive. It is found, in addition, that the exponents in these relationships are only weakly affected by contact ellipticity.     

Lubrication properties of non-adsorbing polymer solutions in soft elastohydrodynamic (EHD) contacts

The in-use performance and processing of many consumer products in the food, home and personal care industries are dependent on their tribological properties. A major component of these products is often a high molecular weight polymer, which is typically used to thicken aqueous systems. Polymer solutions tend to be non-Newtonian, and in particular their viscosity varies with shear rate, such that it is difficult to predict their friction or hydrodynamic film-forming behaviour. The present work relates the tribology of aqueous polymer solutions to their rheological properties in thin films in ‘soft’ contacts at high shear rates. The friction properties of three types of polymers in aqueous solution, polyethylene oxide, PEO; xanthan gum, XG; and guar gum, GG, have been studied as a function of polymer concentration over a wide range of entrainment speeds in a point contact formed between silicone rubber and steel. This has enabled the boundary lubrication and isoviscous-elastic lubrication properties of the solutions to be investigated using both hydrophilic and hydrophobic silicone surfaces.It is found that the friction vs. entrainment speed dependence follows the shape of a classical Stribeck curve. In general, a lower friction is observed with increasing polymer concentration in the mixed-regime. Using scaling factors for the entrainment speed, we have shown that this decrease in friction is likely to be due to viscous effects and that the scaling factors represent effective high shear rate viscosities. In the case of PEO and XG, and GG at low concentrations, a good correlation is found between this effective viscosity and the apparent viscosity measured at the highest shear rates attainable with the available rheometer. However, for GG at concentrations above 0.2%, the effective viscosity decreases with increasing polymer content.The three polymers do not significantly reduce friction in the boundary regime and in general give essentially the same response as water when an effective viscosity is taken into account. However, a slight increase in friction in comparison to pure water has been observed for XG and GG on hydrophobic surfaces. It is suspected that this may be due to a blocking of fluid entrainment, or possibly exclusion of polymer from the contact, due to the large hydrodynamic volume and rigid nature of the two biopolymers. Finally, for PEO solutions with full-film elastohydrodynamic conditions were reached, the measured friction coefficient of the film correlated quite well with the value calculated from the effective viscosity.     

Starvation and Reflow in a Grease-Lubricated Elastohydrodynamic Contact

The lubrication mechanisms of a grease in a rolling-element bearing has been studied through the measurement of film thickness in a rolling point contact. To simulate bearing conditions the contact runs under fully starved conditions; there is no attempt to maintain bulk flow of the grease into the inlet using an external supply. In consequence the film thickness drops off rapidly as the contact progressively starves. After a few minutes rolling (at constant speed) an equilibrium film thickness is attained which has two components: a residual film (h_R) comprised of degraded grease thickener and a hydrodynamic component (h_EHD) due to the liquid phase from the grease. The hydrodynamic contribution represents a balance between lubricant lost from the contact and replenishment from the grease close to the track. The ability of the grease to replenish the rolling track has been inferred from measurements of lubricant reflow around the static contact. These results are discussed in light of current starvation and grease lubrication models.     

螺旋槽机械密封瞬态启动过程润滑特性

建立了螺旋槽机械密封瞬态启动过程润滑特性的计算模型,耦合求解了含流量因子、接触因子及质量守恒空化边界的雷诺方程、弹塑性粗糙峰接触方程及动力学方程,比较了不同运行工况及结构参数的润滑状态转变过程。结果表明：增速阶段流体承载力与液膜厚度不断增大,粗糙峰承载力逐渐减小至消失;相比较于流体动压润滑状态,混合摩擦状态的液膜刚度较大且振荡幅值明显,在到达脱开转速时刻有较大的轴向速度突变。受挤压效应影响,较小的启动加速度可以在低转速下进入流体润滑状态,较高的外压和较低的内压均有利于润滑状态的转变。随槽数的增加,脱开转速呈先增大后减小趋势,螺旋角与槽深的减小或槽坝比的增大均对润滑状态转变能力起促进作用。     

蜗杆传动的弹性流体动力润滑

从弹性流体动力润滑理论和蜗杆传动的特点出发，分析了有关文献对蜗杆传动弹性流体动力润滑条件分析中的不足，指出了滚动速度是建立润滑油膜和油压的重要条件，论证了滑动速度对润滑油膜和油压的形成也有较大影响。采用Dowson公式计算油膜厚度时，为了考虑滑动速度的影响可引入滑动速度系数Ks予以修正。     

The Prediction of Contact Pressure–Induced Film Thickness Decay in Starved Lubricated Rolling Bearings

Under starved conditions the thickness and distribution of the lubricant film in an elastohydrodynamically lubricated (EHL) contact is directly related to the distribution of lubricant on the track in the inlet to the contact. In starved lubricated rolling bearings this lubricant distribution is determined by many effects. The authors have developed a model to predict the oil lost from the track induced by EHL pressure with no replenishment. A complete bearing is modeled with multiple rolling element EHL contacts and with the applied load to the rolling elements varying along the circumference of the bearing. Results of the oil layer thickness on the track are presented for a ball bearing and a spherical roller bearing for different bearing loads and rotational speeds. The predicted layer thickness decay rate for a ball bearing is significantly larger than for a spherical roller bearing and the predicted effect of the bearing load on the decay rate is small compared to the effect of the rotational speed. The predicted decay periods due to the contact pressure effect are small compared to the observed (grease) life of bearings. The results show that a bearing cannot sustain an adequate layer of oil on the running track unless significant replenishment takes place.     

EHL line contact central and minimum film thickness equations for lubricants with linear piezoviscous behavior

Full EHL line contact simulations for smooth surfaces are carried out under fully flooded condition to obtain central and minimum film thickness equations pertaining to lubricants with linear piezoviscous response. The present analysis is based upon the assumptions of isothermal condition and Newtonian fluid model. A major drop in the sensitivity of pressure viscosity coefficient (and hence, the material parameter G) is observed. The exponent of the speed parameter U is marginally smaller while that of load parameter is slightly increased. There is close agreement between the simulated and fitted film thickness values.     

Thin-Film Lubrication of Dented Surfaces

Surface microfeatures introduced to conformal surfaces have been proved in the last decade to provide beneficial tribological performances. They were found to significantly improve load capacity, wear resistance, or friction coefficient in applications that involve mechanical seals, piston rings, thrust bearings, or ultra-high-density magnetic disc drives. Recent studies have suggested that such an approach could be used to improve the lubrication capabilities under thin-film lubrication of highly loaded non-conformal contacts. However, surface micro-features influence the film thickness and pressure distribution within concentrated contacts that could result in surface failures. In this paper, thin-film colorimetric interferometry has been used to study the effects of an artificially produced micro-dent on film thickness distribution within thin-film lubricated contacts. Obtained results have shown that the behavior of dented surfaces significantly depends on the slide-to-roll ratio. An increase in the lubricant film thickness has been observed just upstream of the trailing edge of the micro-dent when the disc is moving slower than the ball with the micro-dent. In the reverse conditions, for a positive slide-to-roll ratio, the presence of the micro-dent within the concentrated contact results in the film thickness reduction located downstream of the leading edge of the micro-dent. This reduction can cause the local film breakdown of very thin films. Nevertheless, it has been observed that highly viscous boundary films can avoid it and rubbing surfaces have been completely separated using the formulated oil even under very thin lubrication conditions.     

Laser-induced fluorescence for film thickness mapping in pure sliding lubricated, compliant, contacts

A laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique has been used to measure fluid film thickness in a compliant, sliding contact under low-load/low-pressure conditions. The soft contact between an elastomer hemisphere and a glass disc is lubricated by a liquid containing fluorescent dye. The contact is then illuminated with 532 nm laser light through the glass disc, and viewed with a fluorescence microscope. From the intensity of emitted radiation, film thickness maps of the contact are determined. Previous calibration procedures have used a separate calibration piece and test specimen with possible errors due to differences in reflectivity between the calibration and test specimens. In the work reported in this paper a new calibration process is employed using the actual test sample, thereby avoiding such errors.Results are reported for a sliding contact between PDMS and glass, lubricated with glycerol and water solutions under fully flooded and starved conditions. It was found that, for glycerol, the measured film thickness is somewhat lower than numerical predictions for both lubrication conditions. It is suggested that a combination of thermal effects and the hygroscopic nature of glycerol may cause the lubricant viscosity to drop resulting in thinner films than those predicted for fully flooded contacts. Starvation occurs above a critical entrainment speed and results in considerably thinner films than predicted by fully flooded I-EHL theory. A numerical study has been carried out to determine the effect of the observed starvation on film thickness. Predicted, starved film thickness values agree well with those obtained experimentally.     

Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication in Extended Parameter Ranges — Part I: Speed Effect

Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication (EHL) has been given great attention in the last 40 years. Conventional theories by Dowson and Higginson for line contacts and Hamrock and Dowson for point contacts have been among the most important contributions and widely used in industries. However, commonly used film thickness formulae, developed more than 25–40 years ago when the computational power was very limited, were originally from curve-fitting based on limited numbers of numerical solutions obtained in relatively narrow parameter ranges. Actual operating conditions in typical engineering applications, such as gears, bearings, cams and traction drives, sometimes fall far outside those parameter ranges, and prediction through extrapolation is often difficult to give satisfactory results. As the computer technology and numerical simulation methods have been advancing greatly, one can now analyze cases in extended parameter ranges that cover various practical applications under severe conditions. This paper is Part I of a recent study, focusing on the speed effect on the EHL film thickness. In a relatively narrow speed range, the present results agree well with those from the conventional theory. In the extended speed and load ranges, however, the relationship between the film thickness and the rolling speed may no longer obey the simple power law described by the conventional theory. It appears to be a complicated function of speed, load and contact ellipticity. Commonly used formulae may often overestimate the film thickness especially when the load is heavy and the speed is not high.     

铝材冷轧变形区油膜形成机理及影响因素

通过计算分析与轧制实验，探讨了名材冷轧变形区油膜形成机理及影响因素结果表明：流劝动力学成膜机理主要依赖于润滑剂粘度和轧制速度，特别是润滑剂粘度较氏时，轧制速度必须达到一定值，否则无法形成有效的油膜，而机械夹带作为低粘，低速条件下变形区主要成膜机理，其膜厚度依赖于轧辊与轧件粗糙度和夹带系数ｍ，０．１〈ｍ〈０．５，且随润滑剂粘度提高而增大。     

Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of Noncontacting Coned-Face Mechanical Seals

The complete nonlinear equations of motion of a flexibly mounted stator in a noncontacting coned-face mechanical seal are solved numerically. The solution utilizes a transient dynamic analysis and takes into account rotor axial runout and assembly tolerances in the form of initial stator misalignment. Cavitation of the fluid film is also accounted for. A parametric investigation is performed and the effect of various design parameters and operation conditions on the seal dynamics is presented and discussed. A critical shaft speed is found above which the seal becomes dynamically unstable. A critical rotor runout is found which, if exceeded, will cause seal failure due to local face rubbing contact. A comparison is made between the numerical results and those of a simpler analytical solution. It is found that the analytical solution is valid for most practical applications of mechanical seals.     

薄膜润滑与润滑状态图

讨论了速度、固体表面能、滑动比、润滑剂粘度和化学性能对薄膜润滑状态下油膜厚度的影响,以及弹流润滑向薄膜润滑转化条件和液体膜失效条件。进而提出了新的润滑状态划分准则以及不同润滑机理下膜厚的变化情况。     

Influence of Mixed-Lubrication and Rough Elastic-Plastic Contact on the Performance of Small Fluid Film Bearings

A previously developed deterministic elastohydrodynamic (EHD) numerical model for small fluid film bearings functioning in the mixed lubrication regime is extended in this work by considering the rough contact. Several simplifying hypotheses are made: the shaft is considered rigid and smooth, turning at low speeds (isothermal regime), and the pad is assumed to have an elastic-perfectly-plastic behavior. The Reynolds equation is solved on a very fine mesh and the elasto-plastic pad deformation caused by the hydrodynamic pressure is taken into account. A deterministic active set-based method is used for determining the contact pressure, the contact extent, and the corresponding deformation. The results are presented for a partial journal bearing configuration, with a linear shaft velocity of 0.47 m/s under specific pressures varying up to 50 MPa. Two pad materials are considered, and the lubricant is either isoviscous or piezoviscous oil. The simulation results, presented as a function of the bearing specific pressure, include eccentricity, the film thickness, the friction torques, the contact extent, etc. Stribeck curves showing the evolution of the friction coefficient in the hydrodynamic and mixed lubrication regimes are also discussed.