Numerical Analysis of the Consequences of Roughness Modifications in 3D Hydrodynamic Contacts

Abstract

A theoretical study is presented to evaluate the influence of the structure size of laser-textured surfaces on the tribological performance of reciprocating automotive components. A topographic image representing a laser-textured liner surface is progressively filtered, using morphological alternating sequential filters of increasing size, in order to transform the roughness of the initial surface. A numerical tool simulating the hydrodynamic contact between piston rings and liner is then used to compare the performance of the textures issued from the filtering process. The results of this analysis can constitute key data for the definition of new and efficient textured surfaces with this type of application.

KEY WORDS:

• Hydrodynamic Contact
• Friction
• Surface Roughness
• Surface Texturing
• Morphological Filtering
• Numerical Tribometer

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The research reported here is the result of a cooperation between CMM-ENSMP (Centre de Morphologie Mathématique, École des Mines de Paris/ARMINES), LMS-ENSMM (Laboratoire de Microanalyse des Surfaces, École Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et des Microtechniques de Besançon), Total, Mecachrome (JPX), PSA (Peugeot-Citroën), Renault, and ADEME (Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Energie). The partners' support is gratefully acknowledged by the authors.

Review led by Dong Zhu