Effect of coating material properties on the lubrication performance of rolling contacts under TEHL regime

ABSTRACT

The mechanical and thermo-physical properties of a coating material affect the lubrication performance. The present study aims at to investigate the effect of mechanical and thermo-physical properties of coating material on the lubrication performance of rolling contact operating under Thermal Elasto-Hydrodynamic Lubrication (TEHL) regime. The mechanical and thermo-physical properties of the coating material considered in the present analysis are elastic modulus, density, thermal conductivity and specific heat. Furthermore, the effect of coating thickness is also studied. The Commercial Multiphysics software ANSYS is used in the present analysis to model and analysis of the finite line contact obtained in the rolling contact. It is observed that the pressure intensity increases with the elasticity of the coating. The maximum fluid pressure developed at the contact region 1.2GPa with the application of material possessing higher modulus of elasticity i.e. 420 GPa. With increase in coating thickness the contacts width reduces. The material having lower density, thermal conductivity and heat capacity exhibits as an insulating material which obstructs the transfer of heat from the fluid to the contacting surfaces. This leads to increase the temperature of the lubricant. With these properties the maximum developed temperature observed to be 351K.

KEYWORDS:

• Coating material
• finite element model
• fluid–solid interaction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Avinash V. Borgaonkar

Avinash V. Borgaonkar is currently working towards his doctorate degree in the Department of Mechanical Engineering in National Institute of Technology Warangal, Telangana, India. His thesis topic was focused on tribological study of the coated surfaces under rolling/sliding motion. He received his Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Shivaji University Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India in 2014 and also his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Shivaji University Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India in 2010.

Ismail Syed

Ismail Syed is Assistant Professor of Department of Mechanical Engineering in National Institute of Technology Warangal, Telangana, India. His main research interests are in Surface Texturing; Lubrication; Nano-lubricant; Surface Coatings. He received his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India in 2009 and also his doctor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal, India in 2014.