A thrust bearing consisting of an infinitely wide pad, subject to a constant load and sliding at constant speed on a runner with transverse sinusoidal textures is considered. The analysis method consists of time- and mesh-resolved simulations with a finite volume approximation of the Elrod–Adams model. Friction and clearance contours as functions of the texture depth and wavelength are built by performing more than 10,000 simulations. Conclusions are drawn for bearings of low, moderate and high conformity, unveiling basic mechanisms of friction reduction and global quantitative trends that are useful for texture selection.
Friction-reducing textures for lubricated mechanisms have received much attention since the advent of microtexturing techniques. In this work we consider the piston ring/liner contact, numerically simulating the rings as they slide against a textured liner. This situation has not been sufficiently analyzed because its numerical complexity is much greater than that of texturing the rings. Further, we consider the actual typical geometries of oil-control, wiper and compression rings, under realistic loads and velocities. The results show the possibility of friction reduction when the texture on the liner is properly designed, identifying starvation alleviation as a crucial intervening mechanism.
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