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Stage 2

The theoretical, experimental and managerial activities of the second stage were concentrated on the preparation of the conditions necessary to the realization, measurement and testing of the textured surfaces, on plane and cylindrical configurations.

One part of the activities had as main goal the simulation of the functioning conditions for which experiments will be developed, for all possible geometrical configurations. The configurations with plane textured surfaces (cylinder/plane and ball/plane) and cylindrical textured interior surfaces were analyzed. This activity permitted the definition of the principal dimensional characteristics of the dimples. The modeling permitted at the same time the establishment of some configurations of interest, from the infinity of possible solutions.

A second large axis of activities was dedicated to the design, realization and adaptation of the test rig necessary to the execution, measurement and testing of the textured surfaces.

Taking into account the elements of originality of the texturing of journal bearing bushes (cylindrical interior surfaces), we arrived to the conclusion that it is necessary to realize a specialized test rig equipped with a laser of large power (Fig.2.1). The design of procedures and testing devices for the ablation process were necessary for this test rig, in view of the automation, but also for the assurance of the repetability and reliability.

Figure 2.1. Mounting for the texturing of cylindrical and half-cylindrical surfaces 1 – laser, 2 – periscopic system for the adjustment of the height of the laser fascicle, 3 – mounting for microscope objective, 4 – microscop objective, 5 – rotation table, 6 – elevation table.

A second side of the experimental activity was addressed to the modeling, design and modernization of the testing test rig for journal bearing from INCDT - COMOTI by increasing the measuring precision and decreasing of the influence of the error source. This version of the test rig permits to adapt more constructive solutions of journal bearings, without later constructive modifications, as well as the control and acquisition of more functional parameters.

For the correct evaluation of the execution of STX surfaces, their measurement is necessary. Their dimensional evaluation and their physical characterization, through means of high definition, represent a major objective, as for the qualitative characterization of laser ablation (and its eventual corrections) and well as for the subsequent modeling, of high resolution, of the processes from the STX couples.

In order to exactly define the problematic of the testing of the performances of textured surfaces in the conditions of the lubrication of the contact, a series of preliminary experiments on both configurations of interest are carried.

These were realized on two test rigs from the Laboratory of Tribology. The experimental samples were realized using laser ablation by INFPLR Magurele. Two geometrical configurations were analyzed using oil as lubricant:

sphere/plane contact on the CALOWEAR test rig

pin on disk contact on the universal CETR-UMT test rig

It is to mention that the lubrication of textured surfaces continues its promising evolution from the last years being a subject having high research potential. In consequence, one part of the activity from the present phase was focalized on updating the references database by including the publications which appeared this year.