Enhancement of Lubricant Replenishment Under Limited Lubricant Supply in Rolling Bearings

This paper proposes a stripe-shaped surface pattern, aiming to enhance oil replenishment in rolling bearings that operate in challenging conditions where starved lubrication can result in failure. The pattern can be created through a chemical coating and applied to both sides of the bearing raceway, transforming it into a replenishment-augmented rolling element bearing (RaREB) that exhibits reduced friction. RaREB bearings facilitate better distribution and replenishment of lubricant in the bearing raceway, leading to enhanced anti-friction and extended service life, particularly in situations with limited lubricant supply. Test results confirmed the effectiveness of RaREB bearings in maintaining the desired thickness of the lubricating film and reducing friction torque. Additionally, a droplet transport simulation model was utilized to demonstrate the effect of the stepped wettability on oil replenishment. The proposed design holds practical significance for enhancing bearing performance in extreme operating conditions. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.