scholarly journals Insects use lubricants to minimize friction and wear in leg joints

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1954) ◽  
pp. 20211065
Author(s):  
Konstantin Nadein ◽  
Alexander Kovalev ◽  
Jan Thøgersen ◽  
Tobias Weidner ◽  
Stanislav Gorb

A protein-based lubricating substance is discovered in the femoro-tibial joint of the darkling beetle Zophobas morio (Insecta). The substance extrudes to the contacting areas within the joint and appears in a form of filiform flows and short cylindrical fragments. The extruded lubricating substance effectively reduces the coefficient of sliding friction to the value of 0.13 in the tribosystem glass/lubricant/glass . This value is significantly lower than 0.35 in the control tribosystem glass/glass and comparable to the value of 0.14 for the tribosystem glass/dry PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene or Teflon). The study shows for the first time that the friction-reducing mechanism found in Z. morio femoro-tibial joints is based on the lubricant spreading over the contacting surfaces rolling or moving at low loads and deforming at higher loads, preventing direct contact of joint counterparts. Besides Z. morio , the lubricant has been found in the leg joints of the Argentinian wood roach Blaptica dubia .

2015 ◽  
Vol 91 ◽  
pp. 151-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamoun Fellah ◽  
Mohammed Abdul Samad ◽  
Mohamed Labaiz ◽  
Omar Assala ◽  
Alain Iost

Author(s):  
Wei Liu ◽  
Yunbo Yuan ◽  
Tao He ◽  
Donghua Wang

Considering the effect of teeth surface sliding friction, free vibration of two-stage planetary gears (TPG) is studied theoretically for the first time. The lateral-torsional coupling dynamic model and equation are established with three degrees of freedom: two translations and one rotation. The change rule of natural frequency is discussed with the case of first stage planetary gear’s number 4 and second stage planetary gear’s number 3, 4 and 5. Afterwards three vibration modes are summarized by calculating the free vibration. In order to understand the behavior of friction, the effect of friction on natural frequencies is analyzed for the case of considering friction and not considering friction. Furthermore, the ‘self-coupling’ phenomenon is obtained from the vibration of center component of TPG Meanwhile, the ‘mutual coupling’ is obtained between the first-stage planetary gear (FPG) and the second-stage planetary gear (SPG).


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhail Yurievich Golenkin ◽  
Denis Vladimirovich Eliseev ◽  
Alexander Anatolyevich Zemchikhin ◽  
Alexey Alexandrovich Borisenko ◽  
Akhmat Sakhadinovich Atabiyev ◽  
...  

Abstract The paper describes the results of the first multistage hydraulic fracturing operations in Russia on the Caspian Sea shelf in the gas condensate and oil deposits of the Aptian formation of V. Filanovsky field. In addition to the small productive formation depth, long horizontal sections with a complex trajectory and high collapse gradients due to large zenith angles when passing the Albian and Aptian deposits of poorly consolidated sandstones are an additional challenge for choosing a multistage hydraulic fracturing assembly. The above features require the use of modern sand control screens with enhanced frac sleeves. A design was developed which includes frac sleeves and sand control screens that can withstand multiple cycles of hydraulic impact during hydraulic fracturing, as well as many opening/closing cycles. A seawater-based frac fluid system was applied. The frac fleet was located on a pontoon, the coiled tubing – on a platform. For the first time in Russia, a 2-5/8 inch coiled tubing with a complex-type friction reducing system was used to switch coupling/sleeves in conditions of very long horizontal sections, complex trajectories, and high friction coefficients. The minimum distances between the screen's sliding sleeves and frac sleeves did not prevent from performing manipulations in complex environment. For well cleaning, the frac assemblies of reverse rotary-pulse and rotary-directional types were used. At the first stage of the project, the development of an optimal method of well completion was successfully implemented. Due to the close interaction of the operating company, service company, and science & engineering team of the operator, for the first time in Russia the design of downhole equipment with the use of advanced technologies of sand control screens, frac sleeves was presented. This solution has proved its effectiveness – the downhole equipment has retained its operational properties after a long period of well operation and further in the process of hydraulic fracturing. At the second stage of the project, 32 MSHF operations were performed at four wells. To reduce nonproductive time and operational risks, a satellite communication complex was additionally deployed on the pontoon to join the engineering centers of Astrakhan, Moscow, and Houston. After finishing the well development, the design indicators for formation fluid rates were achieved, which proved the effectiveness of the stimulation of the field's target objects – this opens great prospects for further development of low-permeability reservoirs at offshore sites in the Caspian Sea. The successful project implementation and the achievement of the design values of oil flow rates has expanded the possibilities of commercial operation of the low-permeable Aptian formation, complicated by the presence of a gas cap and underlying water. A solution was presented for working in extended horizontal well sections with 2-5/8 inch coiled tubing together with a complex-type mechanical friction reducing system. The economic effect was achieved when solving tasks of manipulating mechanical screen couplings and frac port sleeves without the involvement of downhole tractors. The use of new solutions in the completion assembly made it possible to eliminate additional sand ingress problems.


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