Model-based virtual surface texturing for concentrated conformal-contact lubrication

A model-based virtual texturing approach has been developed and applied to design, generate, 'test', and evaluate textured surfaces through numerical simulations. A series of studies on the numerical generation and performance evaluation of textured surfaces in a lubricated concentrated contact has been conducted, which includes (a) numerical generation of a large variety of textures considering possible geometric imperfections that exist in reality due to tooling design considerations and fabrication errors; (b) determination of texture depth, size, and area density; (c) texture distribution pattern selection; (d) bottom shape comparison and design optimization; (e) investigation of the influence of surface relative motion; (f) prediction of performance deviation caused by texture shape imperfections; and (g) evaluation of the effect of originally machined roughness. The present study was conducted using the deterministic mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) model recently developed, modified, and validated, which appears to be useful for surface texture design based on comparative performance evaluation in a wide range of operating conditions.