Analytical investigation of a partially textured parallel slider

Abstract

The article presents a one-dimensional isothermal flow model with analytical solution for partially textured surfaces, nominally parallel. The model allows a simple and elegant parametric analysis of slider performance characteristics (load-carrying capacity, friction force, and friction coefficient) in terms of texture dimensions. It is shown that the friction force and load-carrying capacity do not practically depend on the number of cells. Optimum values of design parameters (dimensionless dimple depth and dimensionless textured length), allowing for maximum load-carrying capacity and minimum friction coefficient, are presented in the dimensionless form. The same model is used to give a phenomenologically based solution for the ‘equivalent step bearing’ in terms of load-carrying capacity or friction coefficient. The results show that the concept of equivalent step bearing is questionable, as the equivalent height of the step bearing is not uniquely determined.