• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.247-253
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• 2018

Temperature rise due to viscous shear of the lubricating oil generates hydrodynamic pressure, even if the lubricating surfaces are parallel. This effect, known as the thermal wedge effect, varies significantly with film-temperature boundary conditions. The bearing conducts a part of the heat generated; hence, the oil temperature varies with the thermal conductivity of the bearing. In this study, we analyze the effect of thermal conductivity on the thermohydrodynamic (THD) lubrication of parallel slider bearings. We numerically analyze the continuity equation, Navier-Stokes equation, energy equation including the temperature-viscosity and temperature-density relations for lubricants, and the heat conduction equation for bearing by creating a 2D model of the micro-bearing using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code FLUENT. We then compare the variation in temperature, viscosity, and pressure distributions with the thermal conductivity. The results demonstrate that the thermal conductivity has a significant influence on THD lubrication characteristics of parallel slider bearings. The lower the thermal conductivity, the greater the pressure generation due to the thermal wedge effect resulting in a higher load-carrying capacity and smaller frictional force. The present results can function as the basic data for optimum bearing design; however, the applicability requires further studies on various operating conditions.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.207-213
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• 2017

In sliding bearings, viscous friction due to high shear acting on the bearing surface raises the oil temperature. One of the mechanisms responsible for generating the load-carrying capacity in parallel surfaces is known as the viscosity wedge effect. In this paper, we investigate the effect of film-temperature boundary conditions on the thermohydrodynamic (THD) lubrication of parallel slider bearings. For this purpose, the continuity equation, Navier-Stokes equation, and the energy equation with temperature-viscosity-density relations are numerically analyzed using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code FLUENT. Two different film-temperature boundary conditions are adopted to investigate the pressure generation mechanism. The temperature and viscosity distributions in the film thickness and flow directions were obtained, and the factors related to the pressure generation in the equation of motion were examined in detail. It was confirmed that the temperature gradients in the film and flow directions contribute heavily to the thermal wedge effect, due to which parallel slider bearing can not only support a considerable load but also reduce the frictional force, and its effect is significantly changed with the film-temperature boundary conditions. The present results can be used as basic data for THD analysis of surface-textured sliding bearings; however, further studies on various film-temperature boundary conditions are required.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.288-295
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• 2017

In order to improve the efficiency and reliability of the machine, the friction should be minimized. The most widely used method to minimize friction is to maintain the fluid lubrication state. However, we can reduce friction only up to a certain limit because of viscosity. As a result of several recent studies, surface texturing has significantly reduced the friction in highly sliding machine elements, such as mechanical seals and thrust bearings. Thus far, theoretical studies have mainly focused on isothermal/iso-viscous conditions and have not taken into account the heat generation, caused by high viscous shear, and the temperature conditions on the bearing surface. In this study, we investigate the effect of dimple depth and film-temperature boundary conditions on the thermohydrodynamic (THD) lubrication of textured parallel slider bearings. We analyzed the continuity equation, the Navier-Stokes equation, the energy equation, and the temperature-viscosity and temperature-density relations using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, FLUENT. We compare the temperature and pressure distributions at various dimple depths. The increase in oil temperature caused by viscous shear was higher in the dimple than in the bearing outlet because of the action of the strong vortex generated in the dimple. The lubrication characteristics significantly change with variations in the dimple depths and film-temperature boundary conditions. We can use the current results as basic data for optimum surface texturing; however, further studies are required for various temperature boundary conditions.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.437-442
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• 2013

In recent times, surface texturing methods have been widely applied to reduce friction and improve the reliability of machine components such as parallel thrust bearings, mechanical face seals, and piston rings. In this study, a numerical analysis is carried out to investigate the effect of uniformly spaced hemispherical dimples on the lubrication characteristics of a slider bearing using a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, FLUENT. The pressure distributions, load capacity, leakage flowrate, and friction force are strongly affected by the dimple diameter and the number of dimples. In particular, the load capacity and friction force decrease linearly with the dimple density whereas the leakage increases. These results can be used for designing the optimum dimple characteristics in order to improve the lubrication performance of slider bearings, for which further studies are required.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.87-93
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• 2023

Nanofluids are dispersions of particles smaller than 100 nm (nanoparticles) in base fluids. They exhibit high thermal conductivity and are mainly applied in cooling applications. Nanolubricants use nanoparticles in base oils as lubricant additives, and have recently started gathering increased attention owing to their potential to improve the tribological and thermal performances of various machinery. Nanolubricants reduce friction and wear, mainly by the action of nanoparticles; however, only a few studies have considered the rheological properties of lubricants. In this study, we adopt a parallel slider bearing model that does not generate geometrical wedge effects, and conduct thermohydrodynamic (THD) analyses to evaluate the effect of higher thermal conductivity and viscosity, which are the main rheological properties of nanolubricants, on the lubrication performances. We use a commercial computational fluid dynamics code, FLUENT, to numerically analyze the continuity, Navier-Stokes, energy equations with temperature-viscosity-density relations, and thermal conductivity and viscosity models of the nanolubricant. The results show the temperature and pressure distributions, load-carrying capacity (LCC), and friction force for three film-temperature boundary conditions (FTBCs). The effects of the higher thermal conductivity and viscosity of the nanolubricant on the LCC and friction force differ significantly, according to the FTBC. The thermal conductivity increases with temperature, improving the cooling performance, reducing LCC, and slightly increasing the friction. The increase in viscosity increases both the LCC and friction. The analysis method in this study can be applied to develop nanolubricants that can improve the tribological and cooling performances of various equipment; however, additional research is required on this topic.