2022

TRIBOLOGY
LECTURE 2-
LUBRICATION PART

LUBRICATION MECHANISMS

‫ محمد المغازي‬/‫د‬
 Types of contact surfaces

Conformal surfaces Non-Conformal surfaces

 Types of contact surfaces

Conformal surfaces Non-Conformal surfaces

Large area of contact Small area of contact

Journal bearings Rolling element bearings

Cams
gears
Lubrication Mechanisms
 Lubrication
Mechanisms

THIN FILM MIXED THICK FILM

Boundary • Hydrodynamic
• Elasto-Hydrodynamic
I THICK FILM LUBRICATION
I.1 HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION (HL)

NOTE: Positive pressure develops due to : 1- Relative motion 2- Bearing surfaces convergence
3- Lubricant Viscosity
THICK FILM LUBRICATION
HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION
Characteristics of Hydrodynamic
Lubrication

• Conformal surfaces
• Pmax ≈ 5 MPa
• No elastic effect
• hmin (minimum film thickness) depends on V.I
( Load-Velocity-Viscosity)
• hmin>1 μ
 Ways of developing positive pressures in hydrodynamically
lubricated bearings

Hydrodynamic
lubrication

Squeeze film Externally

Slider Bearing pressurized Bearing
Bearing (Hydrostatic)
Ways of developing positive pressures in hydrodynamically
lubricated bearings
HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION
(a-Slider Bearings)
HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION
(Slider Bearings)
Examples
HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION
(b-SQUEEZE FILM Bearings)

Synovial Joint
 HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION
C-Externally Pressurized (Hydrostatic) Bearings

• The lubricant is forced into the clearance

space bearing from an external high
pressure source. The pressure in the film is
not self induced

• The supplied high pressure lubricant

separates the surface even there is no
relative motion.

• This mechanism reduces the starting

friction and the eccentricity
Comparison between Hydrodynamic Slider and hydrostatic bearings

Slider bearings
 THICK FILM LUBRICATION
ELASTO-HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION
2
(EHL)
ELASTO-HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION
EHL

HARD EHL SOFT EHL

Characteristics of HARD EHL
• NON-Conformal surfaces
• Pmax ≈ 1 GPa
• Elastic and viscous effects both important effect
• High elastic modulus materials (steel)
• hmin (minimum film thickness) depends on
( Load – Velocity – Viscosity -
”pressure viscosity coefficient” -
modulus of elasticity for both materials)
• hmin> 0.1 μm
(but elastic deformation >>> hmin)
• Examples : Rolling element bearings
Gears Cams
Characteristics of SOFT EHL
• NON-Conformal surfaces
• Pmax ≈ 1 MPa
• Elastic and viscous effects both important effect
but elastic properties is predominant
• Low elastic modulus materials (rubber)
• hmin (minimum film thickness) depends on
( Load – Velocity – Viscosity -
modulus of elasticity for both materials)
• hmin ≈ 1 μm
(but elastic deformation >>> hmin)
• Examples : *Seals *human joints *tires
*lubricated machine elements that use rubber as a material
ELASTO-HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION
EHL

SOFT EHL seals

II THIN FILM LUBRICATION
BOUNDARY LUBRICATION

• The frictional characteristics are determined by the

properties of the solids and the thin surface
lubricant film

• Thickness of the thin film attached to the solid

surfaces ≈1 to 10nm
(0.001 to 0.01 μm)
II THIN FILM LUBRICATION
BOUNDARY LUBRICATION

Examples:
• Door hinges

• Rubbing sleeve bearings ( where low cost is important)

• Applications of heavy loads or low running speeds

(where fluid film lubrication is difficult to attain)
III MIXED (PARTIAL)LUBRICATION
 Comparisons Between
Lubrication Mechanisms
Film conditions for Lubrication Mechanisms
Film conditions for Lubrication Mechanisms

a
Film Parameter Λ
b
Coefficient of friction for Various Lubrication Mechanisms
Wear Rate for Various Lubrication Mechanisms
THANKS FOR ATTENTION