Design and Experiment Study on a New Type of Lubrication Simulation System for Thrust-Ball Bearing in Confined Space

Abstract

Many machine components work within an elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) regime. Unconfined space is widely used in EHL formulas for to evaluate film thickness, which is related to operating conditions and material properties. In classical theoretical EHL studies, film pressure matches the loading balance and the location of the lubricated components can be adjusted. In the present study, the lubrication performance is analyzed based on a confined space. A thrust ball bearing lubrication simulation system is designed and used to examine the relationship between velocity and film thickness. It was found that the central film thickness and minimum film thickness increased as entrainment velocity increased. Fluctuations in the film thickness curve were observed, which may have arisen from slight gap variations in the ball-plate contact area.