TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of chevron-shaped wetting patterns on oil film thickness in cylinder-on-disc contact under starved lubrication or limited lubricant supply

AU - Liu, Yuting

AU - Guo, Feng

AU - Jin, Wei

AU - Wong, Pat Lam

AU - Jing, Zhaogang

AU - Li, Xinming

AU - Poll, Gerhard

AU - Chen, Qingsong

N1 - Funding Information: The authors are grateful for the financial support from Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52175173), Sino-German Mobility Program (No. M0380) and Shandong Zhilian Community Bearing Technology Co. Ltd. (KF-0084).

PY - 2024/6

Y1 - 2024/6

N2 - This study addresses the oil starvation problem in roller bearing line contacts and proposes a novel Chevron-shaped wetting/oleophilic pattern on the bearing track to enhance oil replenishment. Validation through optical cylinder-on-disc lubrication film tests reveals the impact of the pattern on inlet oil supply and film thickness. Notably, a Chevron pattern oriented opposite to disc movement significantly increases film thickness. Wetting is more pronounced in oleophilic areas (Chevron pattern), forming an inverted V-shaped “virtual wall” that directs lubricant backflow toward the center and reduces side leakage. A pattern length equal to the bearing track width was found to be more effective compared to smaller sizes, as the oil side ridges are located on the oleophobic and oleophilic boundaries, which capitalizes the wettability step effect more effectively. This research provides a basis for designing oleophobic surfaces with improved anti-wear and anti-friction properties.

AB - This study addresses the oil starvation problem in roller bearing line contacts and proposes a novel Chevron-shaped wetting/oleophilic pattern on the bearing track to enhance oil replenishment. Validation through optical cylinder-on-disc lubrication film tests reveals the impact of the pattern on inlet oil supply and film thickness. Notably, a Chevron pattern oriented opposite to disc movement significantly increases film thickness. Wetting is more pronounced in oleophilic areas (Chevron pattern), forming an inverted V-shaped “virtual wall” that directs lubricant backflow toward the center and reduces side leakage. A pattern length equal to the bearing track width was found to be more effective compared to smaller sizes, as the oil side ridges are located on the oleophobic and oleophilic boundaries, which capitalizes the wettability step effect more effectively. This research provides a basis for designing oleophobic surfaces with improved anti-wear and anti-friction properties.

KW - Chevron

KW - Limited lubricant supply

KW - Line contact

KW - Oil starvation

KW - Wetting pattern

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85187206510&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.triboint.2024.109469

DO - 10.1016/j.triboint.2024.109469

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85187206510

VL - 194

JO - Tribology international

JF - Tribology international

SN - 0301-679X

M1 - 109469

ER -