Numerical Analysis of Laser-Textured Piston-Rings in the Hydrodynamic Lubrication Regime

Abstract

In this work, the performance of barrel-shaped laser-textured piston rings is numerically investigated. The surface texture, parameterized by the dimple density, dimple depth, and dimple distribution pattern, is optimized to minimize the friction coefficient for piston rings of variable curvature. We consider fully textured as well as partially textured piston rings with two different dimple distributions patterns: a central dimple distribution, and a distribution along the piston ring edges. Finally, the sensitivity of the optimal surface parameters to the piston ring curvature is assessed.