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Lubricants
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Tribology of Textured Surfaces
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Tribology of Textured Surfaces

A special issue of Lubricants (ISSN 2075-4442).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 March 2025 | Viewed by 12430

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Min Zou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Interests: nano-surface-engineering; nanomechanics; nanotribology
Dr. Mahyar Afshar-Mohajer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Interests: surface engineering; tribology; micro/nano additive manufacturing; in situ SEM nanomechanical and nanotribological characterization
Dr. Robert “Drew” Fleming

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Engineering & Computer Science, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 72401, USA
Interests: surface science and engineering; experimental nanomechanics; computational materials science

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to extend an invitation for submissions to a Special Issue on the subject of "Tribology of Textured Surfaces". Our aim with this issue is to compile a comprehensive collection of the most recent, cutting-edge developments and innovations in the field of textured surface tribology.

We are seeking both review articles and original research that provide theoretical explorations, ground-breaking experimental research, and inventive computational approaches. These contributions will help deepen our understanding of the mechanisms at play on multiple scales. We also encourage novel applications that push the existing boundaries of this field. The scope of this issue includes topics such as friction, wear, lubrication, and contact mechanics in the context of macro-, micro-, and nano-textured surfaces, as well as surface engineering techniques and the design and fabrication of these engineered surfaces.

We are particularly eager to receive submissions from a diverse range of academics, industry researchers, and practitioners who are contributing to this rapidly evolving field. This call for papers represents an exceptional opportunity for your work to reach a broad audience and for you to engage with others in your field.

Prof. Dr. Min Zou
Dr. Mahyar Afshar-Mohajer
Dr. Robert “Drew” Fleming
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Lubricants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • textured surfaces
  • friction
  • wear
  • lubrication
  • contact mechanics
  • surface engineering
  • microfabrication
  • nanofabrication
  • surface design

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 12314 KiB  
Article
Lubrication Characteristics of a Warhead-Type Irregular Symmetric Texture on the Stator Rubber Surfaces of Screw Pumps
by Xinfu Liu, Yi Sun, Chunhua Liu, Xiangzhi Shi, Xinglong Niu, Gang Zheng, Wei Wei, Songbo Wei and Shouzhi Huang
Lubricants 2024, 12(11), 397; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants12110397 - 19 Nov 2024
Viewed by 514
Abstract
A theoretical model for the micro-texture on the inner wall of the stator rubber in screw pumps was developed. The finite element analysis method was employed. The pressure and streamline distributions for warhead-type, concentric circle-type, and multilayer rectangular-type textured surfaces were calculated. The [...] Read more.
A theoretical model for the micro-texture on the inner wall of the stator rubber in screw pumps was developed. The finite element analysis method was employed. The pressure and streamline distributions for warhead-type, concentric circle-type, and multilayer rectangular-type textured surfaces were calculated. The effects of textured morphology, groove depth, groove width, and other parameters on the lubrication field were systematically investigated and analyzed. A nanosecond laser was employed to process the textured rubber surface of the stator in the screw pump. Subsequently, a micro-texture friction performance test was conducted on the rubber surface of the stator in actual complex well fluids from shale oil wells. Given the results of the simulation analysis and experimental tests, the lubrication characteristics of textured rubber surfaces with varying texture morphologies, rotational speeds, and mating loads were revealed. Furthermore, it indicated that the irregular symmetric warhead-type micro-texture exhibited excellent dynamic pressure lubrication performance compared with concentric circle-type and multilayer rectangular-type textures. The irregular symmetry enhanced the dynamic pressure lubrication effect, enhanced the additional net load-bearing capacity of the oil film surface, and reduced friction. As the groove depth increased, the volume and number of vortices within the groove also increased. The fluid kinetic energy was transformed into vortex energy, leading to a reduction in wall stress on the surface of the oil film, thereby affecting its bearing capacity. Initially, the maximum pressure on the wall surface of the oil film increased and then decreased. The optimal dynamic pressure lubrication effect was achieved with a warhead-type texture size of 3 mm, a groove width of 0.2 mm, and a groove depth of 0.1 mm. Well-designed texture morphology and depth parameters significantly enhanced the oil film-bearing capacity of the stator rubber surface, improving the dynamic pressure lubrication effect, and consequently extending the service life of the stator–rotor interface in the screw pump. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Textured Surfaces)
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20 pages, 9369 KiB  
Article
Predicting Low Sliding Friction in Al-Steel Reciprocating Sliding Experiment after a Controlled Grinding of the Steel Counterface
by Gopakumar Parameswaran, Vikram Jayaram and Satish V. Kailas
Lubricants 2024, 12(8), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants12080292 - 18 Aug 2024
Viewed by 934
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify the areal surface parameters that correlated with lowering of sliding friction. Different ground surfaces were created on stainless steel and the lubricated sliding friction generated at the contact interface with a flat-faced aluminum pin was [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to identify the areal surface parameters that correlated with lowering of sliding friction. Different ground surfaces were created on stainless steel and the lubricated sliding friction generated at the contact interface with a flat-faced aluminum pin was studied. The frictional force encountered is an order of magnitude lower for a P1200-finished surface than the other ground surfaces. Using 3D surface profilometry, a unique surface parameter ratio “Spk/Sk” was found to predict the frictional performance of these surfaces. When this surface parameter ratio was less than 1, average sliding friction was close to 0.1. When this ratio was greater than 1, the coefficient was an order of magnitude lower. Using energy dispersive spectrometry, such surfaces after wear showed the presence of a uniform dispersed layer of iron oxide on the surface of the pin. This was absent on the surfaces having high friction, indicating the role of the steel counter surface in building this beneficial transfer layer. Scanning electron microscopy provided topography images to visualize the surface wear. The motivation for the authors was to use a commercially scaled process like precision grinding for the surface modifications on stainless steel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Textured Surfaces)
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25 pages, 9517 KiB  
Article
Stability Analysis of the Secondary Motion of a Textured Piston
by Igal Cohen, Shachar Tresser and Roman Goltsberg
Lubricants 2024, 12(8), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants12080274 - 31 Jul 2024
Viewed by 727
Abstract
Piston–cylinder pairs are very common in industrial mechanisms. While a piston is primarily designed for axial reciprocating motion, the occurrence of secondary motions—lateral and rotational—due to the small clearance between the piston and the cylinder may lead to frictional contact, energy loss, wear [...] Read more.
Piston–cylinder pairs are very common in industrial mechanisms. While a piston is primarily designed for axial reciprocating motion, the occurrence of secondary motions—lateral and rotational—due to the small clearance between the piston and the cylinder may lead to frictional contact, energy loss, wear and an increase in unwanted leakage. This study focuses on mitigating the secondary motion of a ringless piston. The influence of a Rayleigh step bearing and partial surface texturing with numerous micro-dimples on the dynamic stability of the secondary motion is studied. A linear model was used to obtain the trajectory of the secondary motion and Floquet theory was applied to analyze the stability and draw stability maps. The influence of various texturing and step parameters, including the dimple area density and aspect ratio for partial texturing, as well as the length and depth of treatment for both partial texturing and step profiles, on the stability of the secondary motion was examined. The normalization method is presented, enabling the expansion of the results for various operating conditions and geometries. Conclusions and guidelines regarding the optimal parameters, in terms of a wider stability range and higher decay rate, are formulated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Textured Surfaces)
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14 pages, 5096 KiB  
Article
Improved Tribological Performance of ta-C/MoSx Coatings Deposited on Laser Micro-Structured Steel Substrates in Both Vacuum and Air
by Stefan Makowski, Fabian Härtwig, Marcos Soldera, Mahmoud Ojeil, Lars Lorenz, Frank Kaulfuß and Andrés Fabián Lasagni
Lubricants 2024, 12(6), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants12060200 - 1 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 765
Abstract
Vacuum and air atmospheres impose very different requirements on tribological-loaded contacts, which usually require different surface materials. While hard tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) coatings provide good tribological properties in air, soft coatings such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) work well in a vacuum. Tribological [...] Read more.
Vacuum and air atmospheres impose very different requirements on tribological-loaded contacts, which usually require different surface materials. While hard tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) coatings provide good tribological properties in air, soft coatings such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) work well in a vacuum. Tribological performance in the respective other environment, however, is poor. In this work, the combination of laser microstructured (direct laser interference patterning) steel substrates and the deposition of ta-C and MoSx coatings with vacuum arc evaporation (LaserArc™) was studied, resulting in steel/DLIP, steel/DLIP/ta-C, steel/DLIP/MoSx, steel/DLIP/ta-C/MoSx, and steel/MoSx surface combinations. The tribological properties were studied using a ball-on-disk tribometer with a steel ball counter body in air and in a vacuum (p < 5 × 10−7 mbar). The type of the topmost coating governed their tribological properties in the respective atmosphere, and no general beneficial influence of the microstructure was found. However, steel/DLIP/ta-C/MoSx performed best in both conditions and endured the highest contact pressure, which is attributed to the mechanical support of the ta-C coating and MoSx reservoir in the remaining structure, as evidenced by Raman spectroscopy. The findings suggest that such combination allows for surfaces bearing a high load capacity that can be applied in both a vacuum and in air, for example, in multi-use space applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Textured Surfaces)
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19 pages, 5415 KiB  
Article
Multiscale Texture Features to Enhance Lubricant Film Thickness for Prosthetic Hip Implant Bearing Surfaces
by Fitsum Berhe Tewelde, Quentin Allen and Tianfeng Zhou
Lubricants 2024, 12(6), 187; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants12060187 - 27 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1461
Abstract
The longevity of prosthetic hip implants is significantly influenced by wear. Surface textures of various length scales can reduce the friction coefficient and wear of lubricated bearing surfaces. The optimization of multiscale texture parameters, aimed at maximizing lubricant film thickness, was achieved through [...] Read more.
The longevity of prosthetic hip implants is significantly influenced by wear. Surface textures of various length scales can reduce the friction coefficient and wear of lubricated bearing surfaces. The optimization of multiscale texture parameters, aimed at maximizing lubricant film thickness, was achieved through hydrodynamic lubrication simulations that solve the Reynolds equation with a mass-conserving cavitation model under various operating conditions. The outcomes indicate that adding “interstitial” texture features to a pattern of microscale texture features can further increase the lubricant film thickness. Additionally, the lubricant film thickness increases as the interstitial texture feature aspect ratio and texture density decrease. Pin-on-disc experiments align with simulation findings, demonstrating that multiscale texturing with ultra-fast laser ablation on Ti6Al4V discs significantly improves wettability and reduces the friction coefficient of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene pins when compared to untextured and microscale textured surfaces. The multiscale surface texturing also changes the evident wear mechanisms on the pins, reducing the incidence of abrasive scratches and adhesive wear compared to both untextured and just microscale textured surfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Textured Surfaces)
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21 pages, 31320 KiB  
Article
A Comprehensive Numerical Study of a Wedge-Shaped Textured Convergent Oil Film Gap
by Raphael Scharf, Michael Maier, Michael Pusterhofer and Florian Grün
Lubricants 2024, 12(4), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants12040121 - 5 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1272
Abstract
The modification of surface geometries to reduce friction is an omnipresent topic of research. In nature, different low-friction surfaces, such as fish skins, exist. To transfer this knowledge to technical applications, for example, to journal or plain bearings, many numerical and experimental studies [...] Read more.
The modification of surface geometries to reduce friction is an omnipresent topic of research. In nature, different low-friction surfaces, such as fish skins, exist. To transfer this knowledge to technical applications, for example, to journal or plain bearings, many numerical and experimental studies of textured surfaces have been performed. In this work, the influence of the geometric parameters (texture length l, width b, angle α and start position xstart) of a wedge-shaped texture on three different convergent oil film gaps was analyzed in full-film lubrication and compared with untextured oil film gaps. With the aid of a CFD (computational fluid dynamics) model, a comprehensive variation study was conducted, and the best-performing wedge-shaped texture was determined. The results show that an open texture at the inlet provides the largest improvement. Furthermore, it can be observed that the optimal relative texture width and absolute inlet height for the three investigated oil film gaps are similar. In contrast to the volume flow of the untextured geometry, the volume flow of the textured one is significantly higher, especially that perpendicular to the movement direction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Textured Surfaces)
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14 pages, 12904 KiB  
Article
Laser Surface Texturing for Ground Surface: Frictional Effect of Plateau Roughness and Surface Textures under Oil Lubrication
by Hongzhi Yue, Johannes Schneider and Jianxin Deng
Lubricants 2024, 12(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants12010022 - 11 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2071
Abstract
Laser surface texturing has proven beneficial in improving tribological performance in different lubrication regimes. However, the interaction between plateau roughness and surface texture remains to be further investigated, even though rough surfaces are common in engineering applications. In the present study, we investigated [...] Read more.
Laser surface texturing has proven beneficial in improving tribological performance in different lubrication regimes. However, the interaction between plateau roughness and surface texture remains to be further investigated, even though rough surfaces are common in engineering applications. In the present study, we investigated the frictional influence of surface texturing of ground surfaces under different lubrication conditions. Channel textures with different depths and area ratios were fabricated on ground surfaces, and their friction was tested in reciprocating tests. The experimental findings indicate that the textures caused increased friction for ground surfaces under boundary or mixed lubrication when the interface is well lubricated. Nevertheless, when the oil supply was limited, an up to 40% friction reduction was observed under test conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Textured Surfaces)
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23 pages, 18505 KiB  
Article
Multi-Field Coupling Numerical Analysis and Experimental Validation of Surface-Textured Metal Seals in Roller Cone Bits
by Yi Ma, Ziang Li, Ziyang Yuan, Xiangkai Meng, Xudong Peng and Jinbo Jiang
Lubricants 2024, 12(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants12010015 - 6 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1705
Abstract
Metal seals play a crucial role in ensuring the dependable functioning of the bearing system in roller cone bits. Due to the intricate nature of downhole conditions, the microstructure design of sealing end faces, specifically the surface texture, is rarely used in metal [...] Read more.
Metal seals play a crucial role in ensuring the dependable functioning of the bearing system in roller cone bits. Due to the intricate nature of downhole conditions, the microstructure design of sealing end faces, specifically the surface texture, is rarely used in metal seals. This study focuses on examining the applicability of surface texture technology in metal seals for cone bits to enhance the lubrication characteristics and friction and wear properties of liquid film between end faces. A multi-field coupling model of surface-textured metal seals was established and experimentally verified. The liquid film carrying the capacity and sealing performance of five different shapes of surface-textured end faces (circle, ellipse I (horizontal), ellipse II (vertical), triangle, and chevron) were investigated under varying rotational speeds and environmental pressures. The influences of texture parameters, including depth and area ratio, on the lubrication characteristics and friction reduction effects of surface-textured metal seals were investigated, and the microscopic wear morphology characteristics of the sealing end faces were analyzed. The results show that surface textures can effectively improve the liquid film state and comprehensive performance of metal seals. Specifically, triangle textures significantly enhance the hydrodynamic pressure effect and weaken the abrasive wear and adhesive wear of the end faces. However, when the environmental pressure is p ≥ 30 MPa, the surface textures gradually lose the advantages of dynamic lubrication but can still reduce friction. The proper texture depth and area ratio can achieve zero leakage (obtained theoretically) and minimal friction in metal seals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Textured Surfaces)
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16 pages, 8180 KiB  
Article
Deterministic Simulation of Surface Textures for the Piston Ring/Cylinder Liner System in a Free Piston Linear Engine
by Felipe Kevin Correia Luz, Francisco J. Profito, Marcelo Braga dos Santos, Samuel A. N. Silva and Henara Lillian Costa
Lubricants 2024, 12(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants12010012 - 3 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1947
Abstract
The use of synthesis gas (SYNGAS) from waste gasification has been pointed out as a key strategy to help the energy transition. However, SYNGAS’ low calorific power is considered a difficult obstacle to its technological use in internal combustion engines. To overcome this, [...] Read more.
The use of synthesis gas (SYNGAS) from waste gasification has been pointed out as a key strategy to help the energy transition. However, SYNGAS’ low calorific power is considered a difficult obstacle to its technological use in internal combustion engines. To overcome this, a novel free-piston linear motor has been proposed to pave the way for the use of SYNGAS in the mobility sector. Surface texturing has vast potential to reduce friction losses in this system. This study utilizes a deterministic numerical model to investigate the mixed lubrication performance of a textured piston ring/cylinder liner conjunction in a free piston engine. The model considers the simultaneous solution of the lubrication and asperity contact problems at the roughness scale, including texturing features on the cylinder surface. The numerical model employs the Reynolds equation with mass-conserving cavitation to calculate the inter-asperity fluid pressure. The rough contact model utilizes the Hertz theory for elastic contact to calculate the contact pressure at each asperity between the piston liner surface and the admitted smooth and rigid ring surface. Surface texturing demonstrated remarkable effectiveness, particularly in the hydrodynamic lubrication regime, with a maximum friction reduction of 38.5% observed for an area coverage of 50%. This was accompanied by a notable shift in the transition from the boundary to the mixed lubrication regime. The textured surfaces exhibited consistent efficiency in reducing fluid pressure and shear stress as the coverage of the textured areas increased. The incorporation of dimples on these surfaces played a crucial role by augmenting the lubricant storage capacity while concurrently reducing the real shear and contact areas. This study offers valuable insights into the nuanced friction-reducing mechanisms of surface textures, illuminating their influence on the coefficient of friction and the formation of lubricant films across various lubrication regimes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Textured Surfaces)
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