Interferometry-based measurements of oil-film thickness

Author(s):  
O Marklund ◽  
L Gustafsson

Measurement of the thickness of thin lubricant films separating rotating surfaces in elastohydrodynamic experiments presents some challenging problems. The nature of the experimental apparatus inhibits the use of most commonly applied interferometric phase measurement methods. Also the absolute thickness of the separating film must be determined, as opposed to relative distances that would be sufficient in most other measurement scenarios where interferometry methods are used. In this paper, computer-based analysis of interferograms recorded using an elastohydrodynamic lubrication Fitzeu interferometer (a so-called ball-and-disc apparatus) is discussed, the main objective being to extract the absolute oil-film thickness. Intensity based methods (most importantly, calibration look-up procedures where colour parameters from recorded dynamic interferograms are compared with table values corresponding to known film thicknesses, but also a phase measurement approach based on multi-channel interferometry using trichromatic light) are described. A discussion regarding compensation for measurement errors due to the pressure dependence of the refractive index of the lubricant is also included.

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Wang ◽  
C. H. Venner ◽  
A. A. Lubrecht

The effect of single-sided and double-sided harmonic surface waviness on the film thickness, pressure, and temperature oscillations in an elastohydrodynamically lubricated eccentric-tappet pair has been investigated in relation to the eccentricity and the waviness wavelength. The results show that, during one working cycle, the waviness causes significant fluctuations of the oil film, pressure, and temperature, as well as a reduction in minimum film thickness. Smaller wavelength causes more dramatic variations in oil film. The fluctuations of the pressure, film thickness, temperature, and traction coefficient caused by double-sided waviness are nearly the same compared with the single-sided waviness, but the variations are less intense.


A technique using Newton’s rings for mapping the oil film of lubricated point contacts is described. A theoretical value for the film thickness of such contacts in elastohydrodynamic lubrication is derived. The experimental results give the exit constriction predicted by previous theory but never shown in detail. The comparison of theoretical and experimental oil film thicknesses, which is satisfactorily accurate, gives strong evidence for a viscous surface layer some 1000Å thick. This film agrees with the known ‘lubricating power’ of the various oils tested.


2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
pp. 1080-1085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingyu Zhang ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Yi Liu ◽  
Longjie Dai ◽  
Zhaohua Shang

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to use elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) theory to study the variation of the equivalent curvature radius “R” on the change of oil film thickness, pressure, temperature rise and friction coefficient in the contact zone between bush-pin in industrial chain drive. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the contact between bush and pin is simplified as infinitely long line contact. The lubrication state is studied by numerical simulation using steady-state line contact thermal EHL. The two constitutive equations, namely, Newton fluid and Ree–Eyring fluid are used in the calculations. Findings It is found that with the increase of equivalent curvature radius, the thickness of oil film decreases and the temperature rise increases. Under the same condition, the friction coefficient of Newton fluid is higher than that of Ree–Eyring fluid. When the load increases, the oil film thickness decreases, the temperature rise increases and the friction coefficient decreases; and the film thickness increases with the increase of the entraining speed under the condition “R < 1,000 mm”. Research limitations/implications The infinite line contact assumption is only an approximation. For example, the distances between the two inner plates are 5.72 mm, by considering the two parts assembled into the inner plates, the total length of the bush is less than 6 mm. The diameter of the pin and the bore diameter of the bush are 3.28 and 3.33 mm. However, the infinite line contact is also helpful in understanding the general variation of oil film characteristics and provides a reference for the future study of finite line contact of chain problems. Originality/value The change of the equivalent radius R on the variation of the oil film in the contact of the bush and the pin in industrial chain drive was investigated. The size effect influences the lubrication characteristic greatly in the bush-pin pair.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 924-936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanyuan Zhang ◽  
Huaiju Liu ◽  
Caichao Zhu ◽  
Chaosheng Song ◽  
Zufeng Li

Stiffness properties of interfacial engineering surfaces are of great importance to the dynamic performance of relevant mechanical systems. Normal contact stiffness and oil film stiffness of line contact problems are studied in this work analytically and numerically. The Hertzian contact theory and the Yang–Sun method are applied to predict the contact stiffness, while the empirical elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) film thickness method and the complete numerical EHL model are used to predict the oil film stiffness. The numerical model mainly consists of the Reynolds equation; the film thickness equation, in which the regular surface roughness is taken into consideration; the force balance equation; and the viscosity-pressure equation. The effects of the normal load, rolling speed, regular surface waviness, and starved lubrication level on the oil film stiffness are investigated.


1984 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 492-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vilmos Simon

The full thermal elastohydrodynamic analysis of the lubrication of rider rings is presented. A numerical solution of the coupled Reynolds, elasticity, energy, and Laplace’s equations for the oil film thickness, pressure, and temperature and rider rings temperatures is obtained. The temperature variation across the oil film is included. The real rider ring geometry is treated. The effect of the operating conditions on the performance characteristics is discussed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolong Zhang ◽  
Junhui Zhang ◽  
Bing Xu ◽  
Zhixian Yang ◽  
Qi Zhao ◽  
...  

Abstract The cam-lobe radial-piston hydraulic motor, a multistroke low-speed high-torque motor, is widely used in large rotating machines such as winches, shield machines, and shredders, etc. There is a slotted hole on its pistons to reduce inertial force, which can simultaneously affect piston deformation. Unfortunately, piston deformation will also have an obvious impact on the oil film characteristics of the interface between pistons and cam rollers. Accordingly, in this paper, a coupled model, which combines the unsteady elastohydrodynamic lubrication model and a structural mechanics model, is established. Based on the model, the effect of the slotted hole on the minimum oil film thickness is analyzed through the dynamic simulation. The simulation results show that the slotted hole alters the oil film shape and pressure distribution. As a result, the minimum oil film thickness increases. This study could provide valuable guidance for further optimizing the piston of radial piston hydraulic motor.


Author(s):  
Caichao Zhu ◽  
Zhangdong Sun ◽  
Huaiju Liu ◽  
Chaosheng Song ◽  
Zufeng Li ◽  
...  

The lubrication performances of cycloid drives affect the dynamic characteristics, the mechanical efficiency and the contact fatigue behavior of the system. To maintain tranmission precision it is required to minimum the times of disassebly, hence grease lubrication is often applied where starvation might occur in service. Starved lubrication performance of a cycloid gear drive is studied using a numerical finte line starved-elastohydrodynamic lubrication model. The parameter of the inlet oil film thickness is chosen to represent the starved status. Effects of the inlet film thickness on the centralfilm thickness, the friction coefficient and the frictional power loss are investigated. In addition, effects of different shape of inlet oil-supply layer in the same starved degree on lubrication performance are studied. Under the same inlet oil supply volume, the convex type profile would present a better oil film within the nominal contact zone compared with other four different shapes of the inlet film supply.


Author(s):  
R. S. Dwyer-Joyce ◽  
J. Zhu ◽  
T. Reddyhoff

The reflection of ultrasound can be used to determine oil film thickness from the stiffness of the separating film. However, boundary or mixed film lubrication is a common occurrence in elastohydrodynamic lubricated (EHL) contacts, as the nominal thickness of the separating film approaches the surface asperity height. In this paper an ultrasonic investigation was carried out on the interface between a steel ball sliding on a flat disc as the speed was reduced into the boundary regime. The ultrasonic reflection then depends on the stiffness of the interface that now consists of an oil layer and asperity contacts. To distinguish the stiffness contribution from asperity contact and oil layer, a mixed lubrication model for circular contacts was established. This predicted the lubricant film thickness and proportions of solid and liquid mediated contact. The total stiffness predicted by theoretical models showed a good agreement with experimental measurement for kinematic cases. The model can then be used to extract the proportion of real area of contact, and the oil film thickness, from ultrasonic results.


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