Dimpled pivoted plane bearings: Modified coefficients

Surface texturing effects on the properties of pivoted plane hydrodynamic bearings are studied by numerical simulation based on the Reynolds equation. The texturing, in the form of dimples, covers the whole bearing surface. The calculations employed are more dependable than those previously used by the author. It is found that under certain operating conditions, friction is increased but the specific load capacity is increased even more. This results in a reduction in the coefficient of friction. Dynamic coefficients such as lubricant film stiffness and damping may also be improved under certain conditions. However, it is found that conditions giving high stiffness also give high coefficients of friction.

Research highlightsTexturing in the form of dimples is known to be able to generate positive effects in hydrodynamic lubrication. In cases of non-Newtonian lubricants and very thin films, these effects may be important. The present paper shows that for larger slider pivoted bearings they are rather modest. The relatively costly texturing processes therefore appear to be of limited practical use.