Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 110077 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Tribology international |
| Volume | 200 |
| Early online date | 7 Aug 2024 |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2024 |
Abstract
The contact geometries encountered in rolling element-outer race or inner race contacts in real bearings are not involved in conventional ball-on-flat disc configurations. However, the underlying lubricant replenishment mechanism induced by the contact conformity plays a significant role in maintaining a long-term operation of the rolling bearings. To reveal those replenishment mechanisms, the traditional flat disc is replaced by a grooved disc to reproduce the contact geometries. Additionally, a ball support structure consisting of dual arc-shaped rollers is employed to simulate the ball-inner race contact, aiming to explore the contributions of grease distributions to replenishment. The results show that the film thickness gradually diminishes to severe starvation states in the traditional contact configuration, while the lubrication states are efficiently improved as the ball-grooved or ball-arc shaped contact configuration is introduced, confirming the replenishment efficiency. The enhanced lubricant replenishment behaviors can be attributed to the high-strength shear exerted on the grease both at the inlet region and within the contacts where micro-slip occurs, as well as the surface tension and capillary force-induced lubricant replenishment. The findings of this study contribute to a comprehensive understanding of grease lubrication and replenishment in real bearings.
Keywords
- Contact geometry, Film thickness, Grease lubrication, Replenishment, Rolling bearings
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Engineering(all)
- Mechanics of Materials
- Engineering(all)
- Mechanical Engineering
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Surfaces and Interfaces
- Materials Science(all)
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
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In: Tribology international, Vol. 200, 110077, 12.2024.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of contact geometry on lubricant replenishment in grease lubricated rolling contacts
AU - Jin, Xuyang
AU - Li, Xinming
AU - Bai, Linqing
AU - Guo, Feng
AU - Gao, Junbin
AU - Poll, Gerhard
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - The contact geometries encountered in rolling element-outer race or inner race contacts in real bearings are not involved in conventional ball-on-flat disc configurations. However, the underlying lubricant replenishment mechanism induced by the contact conformity plays a significant role in maintaining a long-term operation of the rolling bearings. To reveal those replenishment mechanisms, the traditional flat disc is replaced by a grooved disc to reproduce the contact geometries. Additionally, a ball support structure consisting of dual arc-shaped rollers is employed to simulate the ball-inner race contact, aiming to explore the contributions of grease distributions to replenishment. The results show that the film thickness gradually diminishes to severe starvation states in the traditional contact configuration, while the lubrication states are efficiently improved as the ball-grooved or ball-arc shaped contact configuration is introduced, confirming the replenishment efficiency. The enhanced lubricant replenishment behaviors can be attributed to the high-strength shear exerted on the grease both at the inlet region and within the contacts where micro-slip occurs, as well as the surface tension and capillary force-induced lubricant replenishment. The findings of this study contribute to a comprehensive understanding of grease lubrication and replenishment in real bearings.
AB - The contact geometries encountered in rolling element-outer race or inner race contacts in real bearings are not involved in conventional ball-on-flat disc configurations. However, the underlying lubricant replenishment mechanism induced by the contact conformity plays a significant role in maintaining a long-term operation of the rolling bearings. To reveal those replenishment mechanisms, the traditional flat disc is replaced by a grooved disc to reproduce the contact geometries. Additionally, a ball support structure consisting of dual arc-shaped rollers is employed to simulate the ball-inner race contact, aiming to explore the contributions of grease distributions to replenishment. The results show that the film thickness gradually diminishes to severe starvation states in the traditional contact configuration, while the lubrication states are efficiently improved as the ball-grooved or ball-arc shaped contact configuration is introduced, confirming the replenishment efficiency. The enhanced lubricant replenishment behaviors can be attributed to the high-strength shear exerted on the grease both at the inlet region and within the contacts where micro-slip occurs, as well as the surface tension and capillary force-induced lubricant replenishment. The findings of this study contribute to a comprehensive understanding of grease lubrication and replenishment in real bearings.
KW - Contact geometry
KW - Film thickness
KW - Grease lubrication
KW - Replenishment
KW - Rolling bearings
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85200816528&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.triboint.2024.110077
DO - 10.1016/j.triboint.2024.110077
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85200816528
VL - 200
JO - Tribology international
JF - Tribology international
SN - 0301-679X
M1 - 110077
ER -