Effects of surface texture on journal-bearing characteristics under steady-state operating conditions

Abstract

Developments in microscopy have a profound effect on the resurgence of tribological applications at the microscopic level. Using surfaces with controlled microgeometry may prove an effective approach to improving bearing performance. It is consequently of interest to study the lubrication of journal bearing systems taking into consideration the effect of surface geometry design.A numerical approach is used in the analysis of texture effects on bearing characteristics. The results from investigating the performance of bearing surfaces with spherical dimple textures suggest that contact characteristics such as minimum film thickness, maximum pressure, axial oil film flow, and friction torque may be improved through an appropriate surface texture geometry and appropriate textures distribution on the contact surface.The main purpose of our work is to model and understand the evolution of journal-bearing characteristics with textures. A rigorous methodology is recommended. The work is divided into two steps. The first one serves to quantify the evolution of the characteristics with the texture parameters and to deduce their optimized values. The second step enhance the performance of the journal bearing by progressively taking into account the optimized values of texture parameters, especially the textures disposition.

Study on Lubrication Performance of Journal Bearing with Multiple Texture Distributions

“…For a journal bearing under stable working conditions, the two-dimensional Reynolds equation can be expressed in the following form [16]:…”

Effect of compound dimple on tribological performances of journal bearing

“…The first author of the present work found that the cavitation area of a journal bearing with spherical dimples decreases in comparison with that of the untextured bearing [7]. The numerical result from Fillon et al showed that the maximum film pressure of the textured journal bearing can be improved through spherical dimples with an appropriate geometry size and distribution [8]. Galda et al found that the wear amount of a steel ring fabricated with spherical dimples is smaller than that of one having dimples of long drop shape [9].…”

Comparison of hydrodynamic characteristics between circumferential and transversal microgrooved journal bearings

“…Laser surface texture is considered as one of the advanced surface manufacturing techniques in fabricating surface texture in the last two decades, attracting much attention of researchers because of short processing times . Since the pioneering work was presented by Etsion and Burstein, many studies have concentrated on the investigations of hydrodynamic characteristics of journal bearings . The investigation of texture position has been the main focus in the current studies.…”

“…15,16 Since the pioneering work was presented by Etsion and Burstein, 5 many studies have concentrated on the investigations of hydrodynamic characteristics of journal bearings. [17][18][19][20][21][22] The investigation of texture position has been the main focus in the current studies. Ighil et al 17 employed Reynolds equation to illustrate the effect of texture geometry and texture distribution on lubrication characteristics.…”

“…[17][18][19][20][21][22] The investigation of texture position has been the main focus in the current studies. Ighil et al 17 employed Reynolds equation to illustrate the effect of texture geometry and texture distribution on lubrication characteristics. It indicated that textures situated in the first angular part of the bearing (between 0°and 180°) could lead to higher values of maximum pressure and friction torque than that for smooth bearings while the textures located in the second angular part (beyond 180°) could decrease the friction torque.…”