Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Effect of Texture Shape on the Load-Carrying Capacity of Gas-Lubricated Parallel Slider Bearings

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Tribology Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Surface texturing is used to increase hydrodynamic pressure and reduce friction and wear between gas-lubricated parallel sliding surfaces. The shape, geometry, and density of the patterned microtexture features (“dimples”) play a key role in the tribological performance of the textured slider bearings. The objective of this paper is to compare the load-carrying capacity of commonly used dimple shapes for gas-lubricated textured parallel slider bearings. Six different texture shapes are considered, including spherical, ellipsoidal, circular, elliptical, triangular, and chevron-shaped dimples. The pressure distribution and load-carrying capacity generated by different texture shapes are simulated using the compressible Reynolds equation over a domain containing a column of ten dimples. The texture geometry and density are optimized in terms of maximum load-carrying capacity for each individual dimple shape, as a function of operating parameters such as relative velocity and spacing between the two sliding surfaces. The maximum load-carrying capacity of each individual texture shape—with optimized geometry and density—is then compared relative to each other. It is concluded that the ellipsoidal shape results in the highest load-carrying capacity, and the optimal geometry and density are found to be almost independent of the operating conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

a, b :

Half-length of the ellipse axes in the x- and y-direction

c :

Minimum spacing between parallel surfaces

K :

Chevron shape ratio (ratio of length of inner and outer equilateral triangle forming the chevron shape) 0 ≤ K ≤ 1

H(X,Y):

Non-dimensional local spacing H = h/c

h(x,y):

Local spacing

h p :

Dimple depth

N :

Number of dimples in a column

n :

Number of intervals in one direction on the square computational grid of a single dimple cell

P(X,Y):

Non-dimensional pressure, P = p/p a

p(x,y):

Bearing pressure

p 0 :

Atmospheric pressure

p avg :

Average bearing pressure

r 1 :

Half-length of the square unit cell

r p :

Dimple characteristic radius

S p :

Texture density

U :

Sliding velocity

X, Y :

Non-dimensional Cartesian coordinates, X = x/r p , Y = y/r p

x, y :

Cartesian coordinates

∆x :

Computational grid interval length

δ:

Non-dimensional minimum spacing between parallel surfaces, δ = c/2r p

ε:

Dimple aspect ratio for spherical, circular, triangular, and chevron-shaped dimples, ε = h p /2r p

ε1, ε2 :

Dimple aspect ratios for ellipsoidal and elliptical dimples, ε1 = h p /2a, ε2 = h p /2b

θ:

Angle of inclination of the dimple wall due to numerical discretization

λ:

Flow parameter, λ = 3μ U/2r p

μ:

Gas dynamic viscosity

ρ:

Gas density

References

  1. Etsion, I.: State of the art in laser surface texturing. J. Tribol. Trans. ASME 127, 248–253 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Etsion, I., Kligerman, Y., Halperin, G.: Analytical and experimental investigation of laser-textured mechanical seal faces. Tribol. Trans. 42, 511–516 (1999)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. McNickle, A.D., Etsion, I.: Near-contact laser surface textured dry gas seals. J. Tribol. Tans. ASME 126, 788–794 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Varenberg, M., Halperin, G., Etsion, I.: Different aspects of the role of wear debris in fretting wear. Wear 252, 902–910 (2002)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Volchok, A., Halperin, G., Etsion, I.: The effect of surface regular micro-topography on fretting fatigue life. Wear 253, 509–515 (2002)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kovalchenko, A., Ajayi, O., Erdemir, A., Fenske, G., Etsion, I.: The effect of laser surface texturing on transitions in lubrication regimes during unidirectional sliding contact. Tribol. Int. 38, 219–225 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kovalchenko, A., Ajayi, O., Fenske, G., Etsion, I.: The effect of laser texturing of steel surfaces and speed-load parameters on the transition of lubrication regime from boundary to hydrodynamic. Tribol. Trans. 47, 299–307 (2004)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Wang, X., Adachi, K., Otsuka, K., Kato, K.: Optimization of the surface texture for silicon carbide sliding in water. Appl. Surf. Sci. 253, 1282–1286 (2006)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Galda, L., Pawlus, P., Sep, J.: Dimple shape and distribution effect on characteristics of stribeck curve. Tribol. Int. 42, 1505–1512 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Raeymaekers, B., Etsion, I., Talke, F.E.: Enhancing tribological performance of the magnetic tape/guide interface by laser surface texturing. Tribol. Lett. 27, 89–95 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Lu, X., Khonsari, M.M.: An experimental investigation of dimple effect on the stribeck curve of journal bearings. Tribol. Lett. 27, 169–176 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Tala-Ighil, N., Maspeyrot, P., Fillon, M., Bounif, A.: Effects of surface texture on journal-bearing characteristics under steady-state operating conditions. Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. J 221, 623–633 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Cupillard, S., Glavatskih, S., Cervantes, M.J.: Computational fluid dynamics analysis of a journal bearing with surface texturing. Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. J 222, 97–107 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Wang, X., Kato, K., Adachi, K., Aizawa, K.: Loads carrying capacity map for the surface texture design of SiC thrust bearing sliding in water. Tribol. Int. 36, 189–197 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Brizmer, V., Kligerman, Y., Etsion, I.: A laser surface textured parallel thrust bearing. Tribol. Trans. 46, 397–403 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Etsion, I., Halperin, G., Brizmer, V., Kligerman, Y.: Experimental investigation of laser surface textured parallel thrust bearings. Tribol. Lett. 17, 295–300 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Rahmani, R., Shirvani, A., Shirvani, H.: Optimization of partially textured parallel thrust bearings with square-shaped micro-dimples. Tribol. Trans. 50, 401–406 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Ronen, A., Etsion, I., Kligerman, Y.: Friction-reducing surface-texturing in reciprocating automotive components. Tribol. Trans. 44, 359–366 (2001)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Etsion, I., Burstein, L.: A model for mechanical seals with regular microsurface structure. Tribol. Trans. 39, 677–683 (1996)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Hoppermann, A., Kordt, M.: Tribological optimisation using laser-structured contact surfaces. O+P Oelhydraulik und Pneumatik, vol. 46 (2002). Vereinigte Fachverlage, Mainz. ISSN 0341-2660

  21. Yu, X.Q., He, S., Cai, R.L.: Frictional characteristics of mechanical seals with a laser-textured seal face. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 129, 463–466 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Feldman, Y., Kligerman, Y., Etsion, I.: A hydrostatic laser surface textured gas seal. Tribol. Lett. 22, 21–28 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Raeymaekers, B., Etsion, I., Talke, F.E.: A model for magnetic tape/guide friction reduction by laser surface texturing. Tribol. Lett. 28, 9–17 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Schneider, Y.G.: Formation of surfaces with uniform micropatterns on precision machine and instruments parts. Precis. Eng. 6, 219–225 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Saka, N., Tian, H., Suh, N.P.: Boundary lubrication of undulated metal surfaces at elevated temperatures. Tribol. Trans. 32, 385–389 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Wang, X., Kato, K.: Improving the anti-seizure abiligy of SiC seal in water with RIE texturing. Tribol. Lett. 14, 275–280 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Wakuda, M., Yamauchi, Y., Kanzaki, S., Yasuda, Y.: Effect of surface texturing on friction reduction between ceramic and steel materials under lubricated sliding contact. Wear 254, 356–363 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Pettersson, U., Jacobson, S.: Influence of surface texture on boundary lubricated sliding contacts. Tribol. Int. 36, 857–864 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Stephens, L.S., Siripuram, R., Hyden, M., McCartt, B.: Deterministic micro asperities on bearings and seals using a modified LIGA process. J. Eng. Gas Turb. Power 126, 147–154 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Greco, A., Raphaelson, S., Ehmann, K., Wang, Q.J.: Surface texturing of tribological interfaces using the vibromechanical texturing method. J. Manuf. Sci. E 131, 1–8 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Scott, D.A., Brandt, M., Dorien-Brown, B., Valentine, B., De, P.: Laser modification of metal surfaces. Opt. Lasers Eng. 18, 1–13 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Geiger, M., Roth, S., Becker, W.: Influence of laser-produced microstructures on the tribological behavior of ceramics. Surf. Coat. Tech. 100–101, 17–22 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Dumitru, G., Romano, V., Weber, H.P., Haefke, H., Gerbig, Y., Pfluger, E.: Laser microstructuring of steel surfaces for tribological applications. Appl. Phys. A 70, 485–487 (2000)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Duffet, G., Sallamand, P., Vannes, A.B.: Improvement in friction by cw Nd:YAG laser surface treatment on cast iron cylindrical bore. Appl. Surf. Sci. 205, 289–296 (2003)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Erdemir, A.: Review of engineered tribological interfaces for improved boundary lubrication. Tribol. Int. 38, 249–256 (2005)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Vilhena, L.M., Sedlacek, M., Podgornik, B., Vizintin, J., Babnik, A., Mozina, J.: Surface texturing by pulsed Nd:YAG laser. Tribol. Int. 42, 1496–1504 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Pascovici, M.D., Cicone, T., Fillon, M., Dobrica, M.B.: Analytical investigation of a partially textured parallel slider. Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. J 223, 151–158 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Nakano, M., Korenaga, A., Korenaga, A., Miyake, K., Murakami, T., Ando, Y., Usami, H., Sasaki, S.: Applying micro-texture to cast iron surfaces to reduce the friction coefficient under lubricated conditions. Tribol. Lett. 28, 131–137 (2007)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Qiu, Y., Khonsari, M.M.: Experimental investigation of tribological performance of laser textured stainless steel rings. Tribol. Int. 44, 635–644 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Kligerman, Y., Etsion, I.: Analysis of the hydrodynamic effects in a surface textured circumferential gas seal. Tribol. Trans. 44, 472–478 (2001)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Siripuram, R.B., Stephens, L.S.: Effect of deterministic asperity geometry on hydrodynamic lubrication. J. Tribol. Trans. ASME 126, 527–534 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Yu, H., Wang, X., Zhou, F.: Geometric shape effects of surface texture on the generation of hydrodynamic pressure between conformal contacting surfaces. Tribol. Lett. 37, 123–130 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Raeymaekers, B., Etsion, I., Talke, F.E.: The influence of operating and design parameters on the magnetic tape/guide friction coefficient. Tribol. Lett. 25, 161–171 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Pinkus, O., Sternlicht, B.: Theory of hydrodynamic lubrication. McGraw-Hill, New York (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Hirsch, C.: Numerical computation of internal and external flows, vol. 1. Wiley, New York (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  46. Ma, C., Zhu, H.: An optimum design model for textured surface with elliptical-shape dimples under hydrodynamic lubrication. Tribol. Int. 44, 987–995 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Dobrica, M.B., Fillon, M., Pascovici, M.D., Cicone, T.: Optimizing surface texture for hydrodynamic lubricated contacts using a mass-conserving numerical approach. Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. J 224, 737–750 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Feldman, Y., Etsion, I., Haber, S.: The validity of the Reynolds equation in modeling hydrostatic effects in gas lubricated textured parallel surfaces. J. Tribol. Trans. ASME 128, 345–350 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Professor Izhak Etsion from the Technion in Haifa, Israel, for fruitful discussions and insightful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Mingfeng Qiu, Adis Delic & Bart Raeymaekers

Authors
  1. Mingfeng Qiu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adis Delic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bart Raeymaekers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bart Raeymaekers.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Qiu, M., Delic, A. & Raeymaekers, B. The Effect of Texture Shape on the Load-Carrying Capacity of Gas-Lubricated Parallel Slider Bearings. Tribol Lett 48, 315–327 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-012-0027-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-012-0027-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation