Stick-Slip Motion in Boundary Lubrication

Using dynamical analysis for a pin-on-disk sliding system and the consideration of meniscus formation at the sliding interface, a wide range of experimental observations on stick-slip motion can be explained. It is shown that when the initial growth rate of the static friction force is larger than about half the product of the substrate speed and the spring constant, slick-slip motion occurs in that sliding system. The critical substrate speed or the critical spring constant, above which stick-slip motion ceases, can thus be determined. It is also shown that the saturation substrate speed, below which stick-slip motion retains its maximum stick-slip amplitude, is inversely proportional to the total growth time of the static friction force. The maximum stick-slip amplitude is proportional to the final difference between the static and kinetic friction force. For a thicker surface liquid-film, the initial growth rate and the final static friction force are larger but the total growth time is shorter, resulting in a larger critical speed, a larger stick-slip amplitude, and a larger saturation speed. For rougher contact surfaces, the initial growth rate is larger but the final static friction force and the total growth lime are smaller, resulting in a larger critical speed, a smaller stick-slip amplitude, and a larger saturation speed.