Study of surface roughness and surface orientation on friction in rolling/sliding contacts: barrel-on-disc versus twin-disc

• Gears are one of the most important means of mechanical power transmission. Even though the efficiency is high for a gear pair today, further decrease in friction can contribute to lower the fuel consumption. A barrel-on-disc machine (same setup as ball-on-disc) to simulate a rolling/sliding gear contact was used to study the impact of manufacturing method, grinding and superfinishing, on friction. To evaluate the extent to which friction and wear can be diminished by reducing surface roughness and changing surface orientation. Measurement results showed that the change of lubricant had an impact on friction in the mixed to boundary lubrication regimes similar to that of the change of main surface orientation. The results were compared with those from a parallel study involving a twin-disc machine, also used to simulate rolling/sliding contacts (see Figure). Measurements and simulations showed that the barrel-on-disc and twin-disc setups reflected the same friction trends. However, the friction coefficient using the barrel-on-disc setup was almost twice as large as that found using the twin-disc machine. The wear mechanisms also differed: micropits occurred on discs used in the twin-disc set-up whereas normal or no wear was found on the barrel-on-disc specimens. The difference in contact geometry is believed to be the main reason for the higher friction level in the barrel-on-disc machine. A computer contact analysis was used to clarify the differences using perfectly smooth and computer-generated textured surfaces.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Tribologi (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Tribology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Surface finish; Tribotest; Contact analysis

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)