Effect of triangular oil pockets on friction reduction

Abstract

The effect of the apex angle of triangular oil pockets created on a disc surface on friction was studied. Experiments were carried out using an Optimol SRV5 tribotester equipped with a pin-on-disc module under unidirectional lubricated sliding. Both the sample and counter sample was made of steel of 45 Hardness Rockwell C (HRC) hardness. Only 1 ml of oil was put to the inlet side of the contact area at the beginning of each test. All textured surfaces had the same pit-area ratio and an average depth of dimples. Oil pockets were positioned in the spiral array. It was found that the effect of the apex angle of triangular dimples on friction reduction was important. When the normal load was lower, the smallest coefficient of friction was achieved for the sliding pair with a disc apex angle of 60°. Under a larger normal load, a higher apex angle corresponded to a higher coefficient of friction.