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Soft Elasto-Hydrodynamic Lubrication

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Abstract

This article examines the use of ferrofluids to control starvation in lubricated contacts. Starvation in a ball–plate contact is experimentally studied under sliding–rolling conditions using a Mini Traction Machine (MTM). Friction is measured and the experimental results are presented in the form of Stribeck curves. The volume of lubricant is controlled in such a way that no free bulk oil is present in the vicinity of the contact. An abrupt change in the slope of the Stribeck curve in the Hydrodynamic Lubrication zone is interpreted as the onset of starvation. It is then shown that the use of ferrofluids in the presence of a magnetic field distribution can change the conditions at which this onset of starvation occurs. Different magnetic field distributions are tested for different values of load and ferrofluid viscosity. It is proposed that ferrofluid lubricants in conjunction with a suitably positioned magnetic field can be used to promote replenishment, and thus control and reduce lubricant starvation.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by MICINN MAT 2009-14234-C03-03 projects (Spain), by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and by “Junta de Andalucía” P07-FQM-2496 project (Spain).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, C/Fuentenueva s/n, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Efrén Andablo-Reyes, Juan de Vicente & Roque Hidalgo-Álvarez

  2. Tribology Section, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2BX, UK

    Connor Myant, Thomas Reddyhoff & Hugh A. Spikes

Authors
  1. Efrén Andablo-Reyes
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  2. Juan de Vicente
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  3. Roque Hidalgo-Álvarez
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  4. Connor Myant
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  5. Thomas Reddyhoff
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  6. Hugh A. Spikes
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Correspondence to Efrén Andablo-Reyes.

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Andablo-Reyes, E., de Vicente, J., Hidalgo-Álvarez, R. et al. Soft Elasto-Hydrodynamic Lubrication. Tribol Lett 39, 109–114 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-010-9623-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-010-9623-3

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