Numerical investigation of microtexturing rings＇ structure on the friction performance of bearing cells

We presented a numerical examination of the effect of microtexturing negative rings' structure on the tribological performance of parallel bearing couples' cell. Three mcirotexturing rings, which are circle, square and ellipse, were chosen and the analysis model were established. We used the Reynolds equation coupled with finite difference method and successive over relaxation Gauss-Seidel iterative method to solve the Newtonian flow's hydrodynamics within a bearing couple. The effect of texture density and radius ratio(thickness) of the microtexturing rings were investigated on the tribological performance under the similar operating conditions. The numerical simulation reveals that: 1) The microtexturing rings' structure can homogenize the local pressure much uniformly within the bearing cell. 2) The tribological performance is determined mainly by the microtexturing rings' geometry and texture density, and the thickness of the rings' structure can help to change the quantitative values. 3) The square and circle rings' s microtexturing surface can slightly improve the frictional performance with the bearing cells' gap, while the ellipse ring's surface may decrease the frictional performance. 4) The ellipse rings' microtexturing surface can achieve the minimum spacing gap but the maximum friction coefficient of the bearing couple, and then the circle and square rings' structure take the second and third place, respectively.