Numerical Study on the Improvement of the Hydrodynamic Behavior of Parallel Bearings by Surface Texturing

Numerous experimental studies have already established the fact that surface texturing can successfully improve the hydrodynamic performances of lubricated contacts. In a 2005 review paper, Etsion [1] offered a synthesis of these works and showed that surface texturing can benefit a large variety of tribological applications such as mechanical seals, thrust bearings or piston rings. However, the physical interpretation of the effects induced by textures still represents a subject of debate within the tribological community. The earliest investigation with regard to surface textures dates back to the 1960’s and is attributed to Hamilton et al. [2]. The authors reported that the cavitation phenomenon induced by small irregularities is essential, as it allows high film pressures to overbalance low film pressures due to an antisymmetric pressure distribution.