Oil film hydrodynamic load capacity of hydro‐viscous drive with variable viscosity

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reveal the characteristics of hydrodynamic load capacity and torque transferred by oil film with variable viscosity, and the effect of groove number, width and depth on the hydrodynamic load capacity and torque transfer.Design/methodology/approachThe radial temperature of friction pair and viscosity of YLA‐N32 hydraulic oil were measured through experiments, and a viscosity‐diameter expression was deduced using polynomial fitting method. Analytical expressions for hydrodynamic load capacity and torque of the oil film were deduced based on hydrodynamic lubrication theory.FindingsThe investigation shows the hydrodynamic load capacity and transferred torque with variable viscosity are much less than that with constant viscosity. Load capacity increases with the increase of groove depth which is the most significant influence factor, while it has the least influence on torque. Groove width has great influence on load capacity and torque. The load capacity increases with the increase of groove width; contrarily, torque decreases with the increase of groove width. Groove number has little influence on load capacity, while it has great influence on torque. The torque decreases with the increase of groove number.Originality/valueIn this paper, analytical solutions for hydrodynamic load capacity and torque of the oil film with variable viscosity are deduced. The paper reveals the relationship between hydrodynamic load capacity, torque transfer and groove number, width and depth.