HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION THEORY

The Classification of Hydrodynamic Lubrication

Hydrodynamic Lubrication ：Formed the oil film by the relative movement of the friction surface.
Hydrostatic Lubrication ：Formed the oil film on the friction surface by the external pressure oil.

Hydrodynamic Lubrication
The liquid of definite viscosity fill of two slantwise plate
Three assumptions：
1）the lubricant is assumed to be incompressible.
2）the length of A and B plate in Z direction is infinite, plate B is static ,and plate A is moving with a
velocity V in x direction.
3）the liquid is laminar flow in the wedge-shaped space.

The plate A and B is parellel

Based on Newton law of viscosity: the position of the rate of flow of fluid in the section plane is
triangle.velocity spread of the relative moved parellel plate （ Fig.a)(the velocity spread is line or
curve. ) the velocity spread of import, export, middle part is the same. neglect the squeezing action,
the oil film is no carrying capacity.

velocity spread of the relative movement parellel plate

The A and B is wedge-shaped

The velocity spread of import, export, middle part is the different. For the liquid is incompressible,
the oil is pressed from the import to the export (wedge-shaped) which causes the flow produced by
press , the press is upward pressure. It has the carrying capacity
Wedge Effect: the press which is caused by the liquid of definite viscosity entering the wedge
shape convergent clearance.
 Oil film pressure in wedge-shaped space is higher than oil film pressure in the entrance and the
exit, so that it can support the load F. If it balances to the external force, the quantity of flowing into
is equal to the quantity of flowing out, so the velocity spread of liquid in the wedge-shaped space is
parabolic distribution.

velocity spread of the relative moved parellel plate

The necessary conditions to form hydrodynamic lubrication
1. There must be a wedge-shaped space between two relative moving plates.
2. There must be a relative sliding velocity between two plates, and the lubricant must flow from big
entrance to small exit in the direction of the moving plate.
3. The lubricant has sufficient viscosity, and the supply of the lubricant is abundant.

Hydrostatic Lubrication
Hydrostatic lubrication is that send the liquid between the friction surfaces by the hydraulic pump,
using the hydrostatic pressure to balance the external force.
Eg: the system of hydrostatic lubrication pressure oil entrance the two friction surface balance the
external force by static press. Carrying capacity is independent of external load , the structure is
complex, but reliable.

LUBRICATION THEORY:
 Liquid lubrication
 Hydrodynamic lubrication
 Boundary lubrication(three cases)
 Externally pressurized lubrication
 Dry or solid lubrication
Lubricant addictives
Lubricant addictives are widely used to improve the performance of lubricants. For examples,
addictives can enlarge lubricant viscosity, prolong its working life and assure its effect under very
bad working conditions.
Additive— the additived material for ameliorating the quality and characteristics of lubricant.
Function— improve the unstuousness,performance and extreme-pressure ， increase of service
life.
oiliness additive

coef
ctio
Fri

fici
ent
n

f
extreme-pressure additive unextreme-pressure oil

dispersed purificant Oil of extreme-

pressure additive
antifoam additive
sorts Oil of fatty
acid
antiperoxide additive

pour inhibitor

tackifier Oil of extreme-pressure additive and fatty acid

sintering temperature t/℃

MAINLY COMMENT OF THIS CHAPTER

The mainly object of tribology——the fundamental problems of the friction, wear and lubrication.
The classification and mechanism of friction and wear.
The hydrodynamic and hydrostatic principle of forming the oil film.
The ABC of elastohydrodynamic lubrication.

MAIN POINTS
Mechanism and physical characteristic of all kinds of friction.
Mechanism and physical characteristic of all kinds of wear.
The fundamental principle of hydrodynamic lubrication.

Exercise
1. What is the characteristic of the boundary of the friction? And try to relate the form mechanism.
2. What is unstuousness and extreme-pressure?
3. What is the characteristic of the mixed friction? And what is the physical significance of the oil film
thickness ratio?
4. What is the characteristic of the fluid friction?
5. How many phases are the process of the element wear? And what is the characteristic of each
phases?
6. What is the main quality index (QI) of lubricating oil and lubricating grease?
7. What is viscidity？What is the ususl unit of viscidity?
8. What is the different of the oil film form principle between hydrodynamic lubrication and
hydrostatic lubrication