Effect of texture shape on the hydrodynamic lubrication performance of the sliding textured contact: a numerical approach

Abstract

Currently, there is a great interest in the use of texturing as well as the slip because these surface are able to improve the lubrication performance and thus higher life time of the bearing. In the present work, the modified Reynolds equation considering mass conserving cavitation model is established on the basis of Navier-slip model, in which the slip-textured bearing is considered. The texture shape of the single textured bearing with slip located at the inlet is of particular interest. Various shapes of texture, i.e. triangular, rectangular, and parabola are explored with respect to the hydrodynamic lubrication performance (i.e. the load support and the friction). The inlet length containing slip condition is also varied. The results show that triangular shape of texture gives the higher load support compared to other shape for all value of the inlet length. However, with respect to the friction force, rectangular shape gives the lowest friction force, whilst the triangular shape produces a contrary result.