A state-of-the-art review on the effects of particulate contamination and related topics in machine-element contacts

Abstract

Contamination of machine-element contacts by solid particles is a serious problem in all industrial sectors. Particles ranging in size from nanometres to micrometres are responsible for increased wear and for even catastrophic failures of bearings, gears, seals, mechanisms, and machines. The wear such contaminants can cause is abrasion, surface indentation, flaking, and even scuffing, depending on the operating conditions and the mechanical properties of the particulates. The literature on the effects of debris particles in mechanism and machine reliability is voluminous. There are theoretical studies covering the entrainment, entrapment, and passage of particles through concentrated contacts, experimental and theoretical studies on the wear caused in such incidents, studies on the effects of air and lubricant filtration on machine life, and other related research work. The goal is to determine the consequences of having debris particles in a mechanical system and to develop methods to prevent the presence of particles in order to maximize the life expectancy of the system. This article is a review of the related research available in the literature. It covers more than 150 years of research, with the largest volume of work concentrated in the last 30 years. The review discusses over 230 of the most important publications and aims to be a definitive point of reference for the work done up to the year 2009.

Characterization of Desert Road Dust Aerosol from Provinces of Afghanistan and Iraq

“…For example silica particles are harder than the engine structural materials (Al-Rousan, 2006). The behaviour of hard particles in elastohydrodynamic contacts is generally different from that of ductile, soft particles because hard particles have higher resistance to deformation (Nikas, 2010). Particles of hardness near or above the contact counter-surface hardness are usually responsible for abrasive wear on a surface, which occurs as the particle dig in, slide, and plough out grooves of the material.…”

An experimentally validated numerical model of indentation and abrasion by debris particles in machine-element contacts considering micro-hardness effects

“…Machine elements such as bearings, gears, axles, engine pistons, valves, dynamic seals and others are normally operating in the presence of thousands to millions of particulates in their intimate environment, which range in size from nanometres to micrometres. 1,2 Debris particles vary in shape and Mechanical Engineering Department, Imperial College London, UK morphology from spheres (e.g. products of metal fatigue), smooth ovoids (dust) and fibres (polymers, cotton, wool) to curls and spirals (machining debris), rolls, platelets and flakes (paint, products of running-in metal wear, etc.…”

Analysis and prediction of vibrations of ball bearings contaminated by open pit coal mine debris particles

“…According to the relevant literature, there are several possible mechanisms of rolling bearings wear due to contamination [15,16]. When hard particles go into the interference, surface damage by mechanisms such as denting is inevitable [17,18].…”