Experimental investigations of force transmission characteristics in granular flow lubrication
Industrial Lubrication and Tribology
ISSN: 0036-8792
Article publication date: 2 August 2018
Issue publication date: 22 August 2018
Abstract
Purpose
Granular lubrication is a new lubrication method and can be used in extreme working conditions; however, the obstacle of force transmission characteristics needs to be urgently solved to fully understand the mechanical and bearing mechanisms of granular lubrication.
Design/methodology/approach
A flat sliding friction cell is developed to study the force transmission behaviors of granules under shearing. Granular material, sliding velocity, granule size and granule humidity are considered in these experiments. The measured normal and shear force, which is transmitted from the bottom friction pair to the top friction pair via the granular lubrication medium, reveals the influence of these controlling parameters on the force transmission characteristics of granules.
Findings
Experimental results show that a low sliding velocity, a large granule size and a low granular humidity increase the measured normal force and shear force. Besides, a comparison experiment with other typical lubrication styles is also carried out. The force transmission under granular lubrication is mainly dependent on the force transmission path, which is closely related to the deconstruction and reconstruction of the force chains in the granule assembly.
Originality/value
These findings reveal the force transmission mechanism of granular lubrication and can also offer the helpful reference for the design of the new granular lubrication bearing.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 51605150 and 11472096).
Citation
Meng, F., Liu, K. and Qin, T. (2018), "Experimental investigations of force transmission characteristics in granular flow lubrication", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 70 No. 7, pp. 1151-1157. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-07-2017-0211
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited