Deterministic Simulation of Surfaces in Conformal-Contact Lubrication

Topography development is an important component of surface engineering. Surfaces with controlled micro geometry may help enhance the lubrication. The development and application of textured surfaces in bearing design requires deterministic analyses of the micro feature effect on lubrication. However, limited numerical tools are available on deterministic mixed lubrication solutions for conformal-contact systems with real engineering surfaces due to the difficulty that conformal geometry involves a much larger area of surface interaction as compared to point contact geometry. Generally, a huge amount of storage and computer time can be involved if a micro-scale fine mesh capable for asperity description is used for an overall conformal lubrication analysis. Although an absolute solution is difficult, the authors intend to try conditional solutions without losing generality. Reported in this presentation is a new deterministic model for the mixed lubrication of surfaces in conformal contact. Numerical schemes to accelerate computations are developed and tested, the model application to journal bearing lubrication is explored, and sample calculations are conducted.