A mixed lubrication analysis of a thrust bearing with fractal rough surfaces

Zhang, X., Xu, Y. and Jackson, R. L. (2020) A mixed lubrication analysis of a thrust bearing with fractal rough surfaces. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology, 234(4), pp. 608-621. (doi: 10.1177/1350650119867242)

Abstract

Fractal descriptions of rough surfaces are widely used in tribology. The fractal dimension, D, is an important parameter which has been regarded as instrument and scale independent, although recent findings bring this into question. A thrust bearing is analyzed in the mixed lubrication regime while considering the fractal nature. Surface data obtained from a thrust bearing surface are characterized and used to calculate the fractal dimension value by the roughness-length method. Then these parameters are used to generate different rough surfaces via a filtering algorithm. By comparing the predicted performance between the measured surface and generated fractal surfaces, it is found that the fractal dimension must be used carefully when characterizing the tribological performance of rough surfaces, and other parameters need to be found.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Xu, Dr Yang
• Authors: Zhang, X., Xu, Y., and Jackson, R. L.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
• Journal Name: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 1350-6501
• ISSN (Online): 2041-305X
• Published Online: 22 August 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 IMechE
• First Published: First published in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology 234(4): 608-621
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy