Evaluating the contact model for anisotropic non-Gaussian roughness in mixed lubrication regime

Abstract

This research investigates the mixed lubrication of anisotropic non-Gaussian rough surfaces. An adaptive fluid Reynolds equation is proposed, which takes into account multiple factors such as pressure-flow factors, contact factors, and shear flow factors. The aim is to evaluate the lubrication performance of anisotropic non-Gaussian rough surfaces with transverse and longitudinal textures. We find that statistical parameters of asperities height distribution on non-Gaussian rough surfaces exert a crucial influence on contact lubrication performance, with kurtosis and skewness proving to be particularly significant. Moreover, directional effects of anisotropic rough surface textures on lubrication performance of non-Gaussian rough surfaces are complex and vary. This study proposes an innovative conclusion that optimizing asperities height distribution parameters can significantly refine the surface lubrication performance, subsequently improving operational efficiency and machinery lifespan. Furthermore, the fluid Reynolds equation developed in the paper offers theoretical support and experimental guidance for the in-depth investigation of the contact lubrication performance of non-Gaussian rough surfaces.