Making it Rain

A Light Overview of Lubrication

Lecture 3

Benjamin D. Leonard, Ph.D.

 Outline
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Introduction and objectives
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Background information
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Lubrication regimes
●
Lubricant families
●
Wrapping up
 Objectives
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Know and understand the
Stribeck curve
●
Understand the lubrication
regimes
●
Know the families of lubricants
 What is Lubrication?
Velocity

Lift
Friction

Lubrication is the process or technique employed

to reduce friction between, and wear of one or
both, surfaces in proximity and moving relative to
each other, by interposing a substance called a
lubricant in between them.
Background: Types of Contact
(Hang in There)

Non-Conformal Non-Conformal
Conformal Hertzian Line Hertzian Point

Apparent Area of Contact

Pressure
 Background: Roughness
(Almost Done)
Surfaces

Calculated Lubricant Film

Minimum Film Thickness

Λ = Film Thickness Ratio =
Equivalent Surface Roughness
 Stribeck Curve

Velocity, 1/Pressure, Viscosity, 1/Roughness

Boundary Lubrication
Λ<1 Film Thickness: 1-50 nm
Mixed Lubrication
1<Λ<5 Film Thickness: 0.25-2.5 μm

Film Thickness

Pressure
Elastohydrodynamic
Lubrication
3 < Λ < 10 Film Thickness: 0.1-1 μm

Film Thickness Pressure

Hydrodynamic Lubrication
5 < Λ < 100 Film Thickness: 1-100 μm

Pressure
Journal Bearing
Hydrostatic Lubrication
Insufficient velocity? Intermittent Motion?
Aim for Full Film Lubrication
Lubrication Regime Summary
Regime Λ Film Thickness Comment

Boundary <1 1 – 50 nm Surfaces in contact

Mixed/Partial 1-3 0.25 – 2.5 μm Part of surface lubricated

Elastohydrody
Full separation, Significant
namic 3-5 0.1 – 1 μm
elastic deformation
(EHD/EHL)
Hydrodynamic
3-10 1 – 100 μm Full separation
(HD)
Like hydrodynamic but no
Hydrostatic
motion
 Families of Lubricants

SOLID SEMI-SOLID LIQUID GAS

 Solid Lubrication

Correct Operation Failure

●
Boundary lubrication regime
●
Applied as coating or in solvent
●
Layered platelets slide reduce friction and wear
●
Component of other lubricant families
 Semi-Solid Lubricant

High Speed Low Speed

●
Liquid + Thickener
●
Any lubrication regime
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Thickener enters the contact at low speeds
●
Stays in place
●
Stays in place for start-up with intermittent motion
 Liquid Lubrication

●
Any lubrication regime
●
Carries away contaminants
●
Provides cooling
●
Viscosity is most important parameter
●
Recirculates
 Gas Lubrication

●
Hydrodynamic lubrication
●
Light loads and high speeds
●
Wide temperature range
●
Poor stability
●
Air’s viscosity is 1000X less
than oil
 Key Points
●
The Stribeck curve presents the relationship between friction
and pressure, velocity and viscosity in lubricated contacts
●
Lubrication regimes describe the type of surface interaction
in a contact
–
The main lubrication regimes are boundary, mixed and
hydrodynamic lubrication
–
Hydrodynamic lubrication is similar to elastohydrodynamic
lubrication and hydrostatic lubrication
●
The four types of lubricants are gas, liquid, semi-solid and
solid lubricants
–
Each lubricant works in different regimes
Questions